The rising cost of housing in Minnesota has been swirling through the news lately. The nonprofit Homeward Bound made national news with the emergency shelter it runs within the largest Native American community in the Twin Cities, which helped rapidly shelter the unhoused during the pandemic.
The StarTribune recently reported on how sharp increases in rent had galvanized a group of seniors to fight back. And a recent poll that showed one-third of small businesses in Minnesota struggled to pay rent in September demonstrates that even the business sector isn’t immune.
Clearly this is an issue weighing heavily on many Minnesotan’s minds this election season. However, amid this cloud of anxiety, Minnesota senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced new rental assistance funding for Minnesota last week, offering a bit of shining hope as we enter the cold winter months in the North Star State.
Made possible by additional funding of the American Rescue Plan, $8 million will go to rental assistance programs like the Emergency Rental Assistance program in Minnesota. This program helped families who were unable to pay rent and utilities throughout the pandemic. Minnesota received $690 million in funding going to 78,000 families.
While this funding won’t address the issues underlying the sharp rent increases across Minnesota and the country, for those how are on the brink of foreclosure or eviction, this new funding couldn’t come at a better time.
For more information about housing support in Minnesota, visit the state of Minnesota’s dedicated webpage.
