Minnesotans gather to fight for housing programs

When state lawmakers set up town hall meetings to hear public views on state budget questions in late February, they likely didn’t expect standing-room-only crowds. But that’s precisely what most encountered upon traveling back to their home districts to listen to their constituents. The forums, which have largely taken place in greater Minnesota thus far, have been wildly well-attended. In Rochester, more than 300 people showed up to speak with the two senators and four house members from Southeast Minnesota; in Worthington, people had to be turned away for lack of space.

This outpouring of interest has brought to light the great concern many Minnesotans harbor about how legislators handle funding challenges — especially for education, health care and housing programs — as they struggle with the current budget crisis. As foreclosure and job loss affects grower numbers of citizens, many speakers argued, cutting support for housing and homelessness programs would be dangerously counterproductive.
In Duluth, a young woman who is now homeless told her story to a listening Rep. Tony Sertich: At 16, she lost her father to suicide and was kicked out of her house by her mother — and thereafter slept on the streets wherever she could. She reminded Sertich that she had once been his waitress at a restaurant and asked if he remembered her. He said that he did, but had no idea that the young woman had been homeless at the time. Following her testimony, Sertich left the room to catch up with her in the hall to thank her for her testimony.

Stef and Lindsay, two single working moms, attended the town hall meeting in Virginia to express worry about a proposal to add another $50 penalty to child-care grants for families living in public housing.  “My family was directly affected by [Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s] 2003 budget cuts to childcare,” Stef explained. “I made $36.00 a week too much to receive any kind of child-care assistance, leaving me in a dire situation. Three-fifths of my weekly paycheck went to pay for child care. I was left with nothing to feed my kids after rent and utilities were paid.”

Lindsay also voiced concern about the prospect of losing access to child-care assistance, Rural Rider transportation, and housing subsidies — programs that are now enabling her to work and finish school.  All she seeks, Lindsay explained, is the opportunity to build a better life for her family. “I don’t need hand-outs,” she said, “but I could use a reliable hand-up. If given a chance, I will work hard to be a contributing member of society.”

Most meetings across the state included similarly compelling stories, and nearly all reinforced the case for maintaining programs that assure access to affordable housing and that help prevent and reduce homelessness. Indeed, lawmakers’ reactions to the testimony suggested that such constituent stories may acutally have a greater impact on legislators’ thinking than the counsel of so-called experts.

The town hall meetings continue through March 7. If you’d like the chance to express your views about cutting basic human services to balance the state budget,  be sure to check out the latest schedule.