A bipartisan coalition of Minnesota legislators introduced a package of bills today at the request of the Yes to Homes coalition. Together, these bills will take important steps to address Minnesota’s shortage of more than 100,000 homes. The coalition is celebrating the introduction of these bills and urges the Legislature to pass them swiftly.
“It is past time for our state to address the housing shortage that is affecting so many Minnesotans,” said Anna Nelson, Board Chair, Neighbors for More Neighbors. “We want everyone to be able to live in a community of their choosing. We must allow more homes to be
built across Minnesota.”
The bills will re-legalize a variety of home options — including apartments, starter homes, backyard cottages, townhomes and more — in cities and towns across Minnesota. Taken together, they will allow desperately needed homes to be built and will help make our communities more affordable.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve the dream of homeownership,” said James Vagle, CEO of Housing First Minnesota. “These bills can bring back new starter homes and increase affordability by lifting regulatory roadblocks. The time to act is now.”
Research from Minnesota Housing Partnership shows that the cost of a home is out of reach for many hardworking Minnesotans. To afford a median-priced home, a household must earn just over $100,000 a year, while the professions our communities rely on earn less.
“Outdated zoning laws have driven up housing costs so much that now even registered nurses, one of Minnesota’s most in-demand professions, are priced out of homeownership,” said Libby Murphy, Director of Policy for Minnesota Housing Partnership. “We must modernize zoning to allow the homes Minnesotans desperately need in every community.”
Right now, people our communities rely on — teachers, childcare workers and service and retail workers can’t find homes in the communities they serve,” said Nancy Eder, resident of Robbinsdale and leader with ISAIAH. “Allowing more homes close to jobs, amenities, and transit will improve the lives of Minnesotans, help address our climate crisis, and create more affordable home options.”
The Yes for Homes coalition represents many different perspectives and geographies across Minnesota, united in the goal of making sure all Minnesotans can find a home they can afford in the community of their choosing. Members include housing providers and advocates,
environmental organizations, labor and faith groups, business groups, transportation advocates, and others.
“Safe and stable homes are essential for strong communities, yet too many Minnesotans struggle to find housing that fits their needs,” said Cristen Incitti, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota. “By updating zoning policies and expanding the types of
homes that can be built, we can increase access to affordable homeownership, address affordability, support economic growth, and ensure families can find homes that meet their needs at every stage of life.”
“Minnesotans want homes near their jobs, transit, and amenities like grocery stores and parks. Instead, current policies push development to the fringe of the metro area, forcing people to drive the longest distances, increasing transportation pollution, and destroying more forests, wetlands, farmland, and open space. Status quo policies are a disaster for our climate,” said Peter Wagenius, Legislative Director at Sierra Club North Star Chapter. “Legalizing a variety of housing types in walkable communities will help us both address housing affordability and protect our environment.”
The Yes for Homes coalition urges the Legislature to quickly take up this package of bills
Resources
About Yes to Homes
The Yes to Homes coalition is a coalition of more than twenty-five organizations. Members of the steering committee include: Habitat for Humanity Minnesota, Housing First Minnesota, ISAIAH, Minnesota Housing Partnership, Neighbors for More Neighbors, and Sierra Club.