There is much to celebrate this legislative session! In my five years of advocating at the Capitol for housing and homelessness programs, this year takes the cake for the number of victories and progress made.
None of this would have happened without the dedication and commitment of the many people who took time to contact legislators and the Governor by phone, email, or in person.
The Coalition took on an aggressive, proactive agenda this year. We also played an important defensive role where programs for low-income people were threatened. Proactive progress on the Coalition’s agenda included:
- $12 million in bonding for supportive housing for the long-term homeless plan.
- $10 million for the new long-term homeless services fund.
- $500,000 in new resources for the Transitional Housing Program.
- $400,000 to establish three homeless outreach pilot projects.
- Repeal of the state’s unconstitutional and archaic vagrancy statute.
- $2.247 million in new resources to help youth transition from foster care.
The positions we took to defend programs for low-income people were also tremendously successful:
- The Renters’ Credit will remain intact!
- Deep cuts proposed to MHFA’s programs were avoided.
- The proposed increase to the $50 MFIP housing penalty was prevented and the SSI penalty was scaled back.
- MN Care was left intact and co-pays for MA and GAMC were reduced from $20 to $12.
The Coalition and our allies successfully gained over $25 million in new resources for people experiencing homelessness and low-income people. We also prevented a grand total of over $190 million in potential cuts to programs that benefit people with low incomes.
Please take the time to contact policymakers and thank those who championed our issues!
The Coalition is already thinking about the 2006 Legislative Session when we will be supporting a bonding initiative for supportive and transitional housing, promoting a surcharge to the deed tax to raise dedicated revenue for housing and homelessness programs, seeking additional revenue for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, working on the homeless youth initiatives put forth by the Minnesota Youth Services Association, and fighting any proposals that may set us back in our efforts to end homelessness in Minnesota.
Please contact Rachel Callanan with your comments on the 2005 session and your priorities for 2006!