Housing Solutions Act Supporters Mobilize at Homes-for-All Convention to Promote the Act

Nearly two-thirds of the nine hundred people who attended last week’s Homes-for-All convention used it as an opportunity to show their support for passage of the Housing Solutions Act.

Throughout the seven-hour convention, members of the Alliance handed out bright orange stickers to Housing Solutions Act supporters. When asked what he thought about the work of the Alliance , Rich, a local activist and convention attendee, said “I am so amazed at the diversity of support for the Housing Solutions Act here today. I’ve rarely seen social service providers, activists like me, mortgage people, realtors, and even architects all support the same thing. Seeing almost everyone here show support for Housing Solutions makes me excited to help see it pass next year.”

Several Alliance volunteers also distributed policy briefs about the Act and answered attendees’ questions. Julia, skeptical about whether or not the Act would also help Greater Minnesota meet their affordable housing needs, was excited to learn that the legislation contains provisions designed to make sure the resources are distributed statewide. Lisa’s concerns about the state using a large influx of resources to supplant existing state resources for housing was happy to learn that the Act contains a provision explaining that it is intended to be a new source of funding significant in size, that is dedicated to funding additional housing initiatives in the State.

At several points during the Convention attendees applauded plenary and breakout speakers who voiced their support for the Act. At one point during Senator Mary’s speech the crowd erupted into applause when he highlighted his support for the Act. Senator Marty is the new Chair of the housing committee in the Senate.

Alliance volunteers also used the Convention to sign up new organizational supporters. The Alliance has a goal of securing the endorsement of 1,000 organizations. To learn more about the Housing Solutions Act and how to endorse it, please visit www.housingsolutionsalliance.org. To endorse the Act, simply call (612-879-9437) or e-mail (davey@mnhomelesscoalition.org) Mike Davey at the MN Coalition for the Homeless.