Metropolitan Interfaith Council On Affordable Housing

IN SPRING OF 2020, WE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT RISK OF EVICTION, LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS OR IN MOTELS/SHELTERS IN THE METRO AREA. MICAH WORKED WITH FREEDOM FROM THE STREETS, CONGREGATIONS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, MINNESOTA INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS, AND PROVIDERS TO IDENTIFY FUNDING, SHELTER AND HOUSING RESOURCES TO ASSIST PEOPLE TO MOVE INTO HOUSING OPTIONS ASAP. MICAH WORKED WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND PROVIDERS TO CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE COVID-19 RESPONSES IMPLEMENTED AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL REGARDING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING/AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, WITH OUR TWICE A WEEK CONFERENCE CALLS WITH MARGARET KING MN. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS, AND RAMSEY AND HENNEPIN COUNTY OFFICIALS. MICAH WORKED WITH KEY STATE AND COUNTY CONTACTS AS THEY COORDINATED PLACEMENT OF SANITATION AND HAND WASHING STATIONS IN HIGH USE AREAS, FOOD OPTIONS, INTERNET AND COMPUTER OPTIONS DROP IN SETTINGS, AND IN DEVELOPING POSTERS AND WALLET CARDS TO HAND OUT SO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WOULD KNOW HOW TO ACCESS AND WHERE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. MICAH ADVOCATED FOR A HOUSING NOW RESPONSE TO HOUSE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND NOT DUMP PEOPLE BACK INTO THE STREETS WHEN THE FEDERAL FUNDS RUN OUT. IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: - MICAH HELPED WITH THE EXPANSION OF INFLUENCE OF FREEDOM FROM THE STREETS AND NO MORE STREETS, ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS TO BECOME TRAINED DECISION MAKERS ON POLICY COMMITTEES IN MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL, HOMES FOR ALL AND OTHER STATE AND LOCAL COMMITTEE ADVOCATED FOR A STRONGER REGIONAL HOUSING POLICY AT THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL AND WITH CITIES (BROOKLYN PARK, BURNSVILLE, CAMBRIDGE, CARVER, DAYTON, FRIDLEY, HUGO, INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, LAKEVILLE, MAHTOMEDI, MAPLE GROVE, MAPLEWOOD, MINNEAPOLIS, ROGERS, ROSEVILLE, ST. MICHAEL, AND ST. PAUL) TO DEVELOP OVER 1000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES, SINGLES, YOUTH AND SENIORS. ADVOCATED TO EXPAND MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY'S COMMITMENT TO FAIR HOUSING. OUR COMMENTS HAVE HELPED TO IMPROVE THE MHFA QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN, BI-ANNUAL PLAN, CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING TO MEET THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DILIGENTLY MAINTAINED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ADHERENCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS. MICAH SETTLED AND CONTINUES TO MONITOR THREE OF FOUR FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINTS AND WORKED WITH THE PEOPLE IMPACTED, THE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL LEADERS, AND HAS AMENDED THE ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING AND CREATED THE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE BARRIERS MICAH PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY INPUT AND ASSISTANCE IN 2019-2020 IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW 2020 AI IN THE TWIN CITIES HOSTED OVER 1000 PARTICIPANTS IN REGIONAL MEETINGS IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM INCLUDING LEGISLATIVE BREAKFASTS, COMMUNITY BUS TOURS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND HOUSING SUMMITS (OUR REGIONAL GROUPS HAVE DOUBLED IN SIZE). A MICAH BOARD MEMBER NOW SERVES ON THE MPCA EQUITY COMMITTEE. THESE COMMITTEES HELP INFORM THE MAIN BODY'S DECISIONS, AND THE ROLE WE PLAY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL INSURING THAT THE VOICES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING CRISIS ARE HEARD. DILIGENTLY WORKED WITH HOMES FOR ALL AND OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS IN 2020 TO MAINTAIN HOUSING RESOURCES, INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS LEAD ISSUES IN OUR HOMES AND SCHOOLS. MICAH BOARD MEMBERS WHO EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS WERE KEY LEADERS AND PROVIDED GUIDANCE ON HOMES FOR ALL AGENDA. MICAH LEADERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS ADVOCATED TO HAVE THE BONDING BILL INCLUDE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE BELOW 30% MEDIAN INCOME WITHOUT SUPPORT SERVICES, "JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE POOR DOES NOT MEAN YOU NEED SUPPORTIVE HOUSING." THEY ADVOCATED FOR THE HOMELESS RESIDENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA AND POTENTIAL INTRODUCTION OF THE SHELTER BILL OF RIGHTS INTO LEGISLATION IN THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.