You can click here to watch a video walking through the 2019-2020 Homes for All Legislative Agenda (some dollar amounts have changed since recording the video).
Capital Investments in Housing 2012 – 2017 | Download this map, created by Minnesota Housing, to see where General Obligation (GO) Bonds and Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB) have been utilized across the Minnesota to build or preserve affordable housing.
2018 Legislative District Profiles | The Legislative District Profiles are created by Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) and updated every two years. The Legislative District Profiles highlight housing need and data specific to each district with additional information about the state of Minnesota.
State of the State’s Housing 2017 | Created by the Minnesota Housing Partnership, the State of the State’s Housing is a comprehensive overview of key housing metrics at the county, region and state levels. In addition to spotlighting key trends, like the gap between the costs of housing and the salaries of in-demand jobs, the report also ranks counties on benchmarks like renter cost burden and showcases issues like aging housing stock with dynamic maps.
National Housing Preservation Database | The National Housing Preservation Database was created by the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) in an effort to provide communities with the information they need to effectively preserve their stock of public and affordable housing. It incorporates all available data on federally subsidized housing properties and includes nine separate funding streams.
Writing a commentary or letter to the editor is an effective way to raise awareness among the general public, as well as legislators and public officials. Your letter can be a response to something in the news, make a point that was omitted in an article, or disagree with or correct misinformation from a news story, editorial, or another letter. Sending a letter to the editor raises the issue’s profile in the news outlet and increases the chances that a letter on the topic will be published. If you are responding to a recent article or commentary published, aim to respond within two days for a daily paper if possible.
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Choose one newspaper or online outlet to send your letter to first. If it does not get published, you can send it to another outlet. It is a good practice not to submit the same letter/commentary to more than one media outlet before knowing if it will be printed.
Review the submission guidelines (how to submit, length limits, etc.) specific to the outlet you’ll be submitting to. See also “Submit to an outlet” for a partial list of Minnesota outlets.
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Sample format (LTEs)
This sample format can help get you started.
Start with a “hook” to draw in readers. (1 or a couple of sentences). Some options:
Refer to recent related media coverage
Tell a very short compelling story
Refer to local events or changes you’ve noticed
Use a compelling statistic, especially one that’s local
Explain why this issue is important to you or people you know (1 or a few sentences). This might include
Your role or current work position
An experience you’ve had or witnessed others having, and its impact.
Be sure to include the “ask” (e.g. the legislature should include $x million for housing and homelessness services).
Note:
The “hook” and “why this issue is important” may end up being one and the same, depending on word limit and what you want to say.
Aim for shorter and more succinct yet powerful pieces.
Include specific, concrete examples whenever possible.
Sharing a story to make a heart connection, plus data to make a head connection can be a useful approach. But if you have expertise in one or the other of these areas, use what you know best to express your authority.
Sample format (commentaries)
Follow the same format as above for LTEs, but you’ll have more space to develop ideas. You may want to expand middle section on why the issue is important.
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Do:
Focus on one important point or topic.
Be brief.
Be sure to follow the guidelines and word count limit of the target publication.
Use verified facts and local data when possible.
Create immediacy by indicating how readers will be affected by the issue you address.
When possible; try to balance criticism with a positive — ask readers for action when practical. This includes elected officials.
Point people to a source for more information or to engage in action whenever practical.
When writing to your local newspaper (not recommended for larger city or national publication), follow up with a polite phone inquiry about its status if it doesn’t appear within 4-5 days to ensure it was received and considered.
If the publication publishes an online version, hyperlink the relevant websites or emails.
Avoid:
Overstating or exaggerating points. One overstatement makes every following point suspect.
Insulting your opponents.
Using jargon or acronyms not understood by the general public.
Using all capital letters or bold text to emphasize words, as this can cause people to dismiss what you are saying. You may italicize one or two words, but most papers will print in plain text regardless.
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A partial list of Minnesota newspapers is below with links or contact information for submission.
Pioneer Press
By email: letters@pioneerpress.com By mail: Pioneer Press 345 Cedar Street St. Paul, MN 55101 By fax: (651) 228-5564.
Some contents on this page build upon a Homes for All 2014 document.
Policy adoption process
Every other fall, as part of the Homes for All MN legislative agenda setting process, the coalition hears policy proposals for consideration on the biennial legislative agenda. This process provides members and non-members an opportunity to participate in and influence the coalition’s policy agenda. Recent adoption of new bylaws provides an opportunity for the agenda to be amended during odd fall years.
Process overview
The policy team solicits and accepts policy proposals for amendment through applications. Click here to see the application. Each applicant must also complete the Core Values Assessment form.
Applicants are given the opportunity to present its proposal at a policy team meeting.
The policy team hears and considers proposals. Then creates a draft policy agenda after hearing proposals, while weighing political realities.
The policy team provides a recommendation to the entire coalition to adopt, reject, or amends the draft agenda.
The adopted items will be added to the full or support Homes for All legislative agenda for the upcoming 2020 legislative session.
Timeline
September 3 – Proposal for amendment application goes live
October 7 – Proposal for amendment applications are due by 5:00pm
October 15 – Presentation of proposals for amendment (Location: MCCD, 3137 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN – Video Presentation will also be available))
October 22 – Homes for All Policy Team meets to discuss proposals and vote on a recommendation to the full coalition(other dates may be added as necessary)
November 7 – Homes for All sends out voting survey to endorsing members
November 20 – Survey Voting ends
November 21 – Homes for All full coalition meets to formally adopt any agenda amendments
Who can submit an application?
Any endorsing member of the coalition can submit a proposal for amendment application. The proposal submission process is open non-members if they have an endorsing member help to submit their request.
While developing a policy proposal may seem daunting for non-policy professionals, Homes for All encourages anyone who has identified a problem or need and conceptualized a solution to consider proposing policy ideas. At a minimum, your policy proposal needs to: 1) identify a problem or need and 2) present a solution. Because the coalition is developing a state legislative agenda, the solutions should require state legislation.
Learn more about how to develop a policy proposal.
How are proposals evaluated?
Proposals are initially evaluated on the application form and to what extent the proposal: 1) supports the continuum of housing and services; 2) strengthens the connection between housing and services; 3) reduces barriers/improves access to stable housing; and 4) promotes choice in housing. This assessment is the first and only one of multiple tools used to guide the coalition in its policy agenda setting process.
After all proposals have been presented, the policy committee meets to evaluate the political feasibility of each proposal.
Then, the policy co-chairs disseminate a survey to Homes for All endorsing organizations. The survey includes each policy proposal, along with the corresponding Core Values Assessment form and the policy team’s political feasibility evaluation for that proposal. Each organization is allowed to complete only one survey.
What is the role of the policy committee?
The policy team convenes a series of meetings throughout the fall to facilitate the legislative agenda setting process. Team members participate in all agenda setting meetings. After hearing all proposals, the team evaluates the political feasibility of each proposal and provides a recommendation to the full coalition.
Who serves on the policy committee?
Typically, team members include advocates and lobbyists. However, this team is open to all member organizations. If you are interested in being a member of this team, please contact Homes for All policy co-chairs Libby Murphy and Kari Johnson. Homes for All encourages participation by a wide variety of organizations to support balanced representation of metro and non-metro members, service providers, and developers.
What is the role of Homes for All coalition members?
Every organization that endorsed the coalition’s previous legislative agenda is able to vote on the proposals for amendment.
Tips for developing a proposal
The proposal should:
Be something with which you are familiar/something in your field;
Attempt to address a problem or need; and
Describe how the problem can be resolved or changed.
Tips for presentations:
Research the issues, and incorporate facts into your proposal.
State the problem and describe how the problem affects the audience.
Follow the statement of the problem with a proposed solution.
If you’re requesting appropriations, specify the amount.
Identify key stakeholders and lawmakers that support your proposal.
Days on the Hill are a great way to get directly involved with lobbying efforts at the capitol and get to know the people involved in the action. Check out the upcoming events below and read a recent blog post about what to expect at a day on the hill.
Every other fall, as part of the Homes for All MN legislative agenda setting process, the coalition hears policy proposals for consideration on the biennial legislative agenda. This process provides members and non-members an opportunity to participate in and influence the coalition’s policy agenda. Recent adoption of new 
Days on the Hill are a great way to get directly involved with lobbying efforts at the capitol and get to know the people involved in the action. Check out the upcoming events below and read a