I took the comment as part hyperbole, but definitely thought-provoking and disturbing and duly reported it.

I’m not saying I believe Minnesotans would let this happen, but I also can’t shake off that thought after reading the quarterly “2×4” Report released this week by the Minnesota Housing Partnership, an organization with a mission of creating and preserving affordable housing for people of low and moderate income.  Read more. (Cynthia Boyd, Minn Post, March 27, 2013)

Fox 9 News, March 19, 2013

Bipartisan group urges new housing policy

Minnesota Public Radio, March 19, 2013

When the housing bubble burst in 2007, it did lasting damage to the U.S. economy. Now the housing market appears to be recovering — but did policymakers learn anything in the last crisis that can help us avoid the next one? Amid the hopeful signs comes this disturbing one: More than four mortgages in five are still backed by the U.S. government.

A new report calls for a major overhaul of the housing finance system, and it recommends changes that would affect renters as well as homeowners. Renters in the Twin Cities might say it’s about time, because rents in our region remain out of reach for many. But how much can government do to address that problem? Read article.

Fort snelling to build housing for homeless vets

Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune, March 18, 2013

From stables and tank garages to apartments and a new life: After decades of neglect, old buildings at Fort Snelling will be renovated into apartments for homeless veterans and their families.

Read article.

Fighting Youth Homelessness: Provide housing – and help finding a job

Cynthia Boyd, MinnPost, March 19, 2013

For Rich Evans, his own place at Nicollet Square is a far cry from the days he waited in line for a bed at a downtown Minneapolis homeless shelter.

Instead of a mattress on the floor among a sea of strangers, the formerly homeless young man rents a 380-square-footstudio in a new, 42-unit building with large windows and strikingly modern furniture.

“It’s my own spot. It gives me a chance to be independent and a place to go when I want to be alone,’’ Evans, just 22, told me as he mused about his past and dreamed of a future return to college.

Though a spectrum of advocates united in a Homes for All Campaign this session are asking for $8 million for the Homeless Youth Act, they see the administration’s funding request as a giant step forward from the current $238,000 funding level. Read article.

Transitional shelter now open

Denise Martin, Chisago County Press, March 14, 2013

A transitional homeless shelter opened just a few months ago in Pine City, serving citizens from Chisago, Pine, Kanabec, Isanti, and Mille Lacs counties. Transitional, by definition, means it is temporary and shelter director Deacon Eugene Biever said clients stay for 90 days. They need to be working and/or attending school to get job training. “They have to be working on a plan,” as Biever put it. Read article.

Dayton’s new plan: ‘tax the rich’ leaves sales tax off the table

Rachel Stassen-Berger, Star Tribune, March 15, 2013

Despite losing $2 billion in revenue compared to his first budget proposal, Dayton found some new programs worth funding in the latest version of his budget. He added $18 million to his spending plans to offer renters tax relief and would give the state’s Office of Administrative Hearing a one-time $60,000 boost to cover the cost of dealing with increased campaign-related complaints.

The governor even made changes to his spending plans on Wednesday night. Katharine Tinucci, the governor’s spokeswoman, said he was so moved by his visit Wednesday with United Way officials that he added in millions more in spending to domestic-violence and homeless-youth programs.

“We are very excited,” said Kenza Hadj-Moussa, communications director for the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, of the $5 million the governor added for homeless youth. “That program has been underfunded for years [but] it is still shy of the need.” Read article.

The Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless needs your help to raise $10,000 by September 1. The Pohlad Foundation will match $5,000 from first time donors.