Housing for All - April Report

submitted by Ed Goldsmith

MICAH's Housing For All (Suburban Hennepin County Chapter) had another fabulous Virtual Annual Policy Breakfast on March 10. If you were unable to join the Zoom meeting, you can find a link to the event video and other presentations on our chapter page.

This year’s questions to elected officials.
What are your visions, commitments, and plans to:
use available public resources to Bring Minnesota Home Now!
prevent & end homelessness?
provide more affordable housing?

The wonderful scheduled speakers responding were:
State Representative Michael Howard, Chair - Housing Finance & Policy Committee;
State Senator John Hoffman, Chair - Human Services Committee;
Hennepin County Commissioner Kevin Anderson; and
Maple Grove Councilmembers Kristy Janigo & Kristy Barnett.

This year’s question to service providers, developers/owners, and a city program director.
What are you doing, and how will additional resources help, to meet people's housing needs in our communities?

The wonderful scheduled speakers were:
Sandra Moberg Walls of Restorative Justice & Court Services;
JoAnn Leppink of The ARC Metro Regional Quality Council;
Joe Hogeboom - Maple Grove Community & Economic Development Director;
Cynthia Heckler of CommonBond Advantage Services; and
John Duffy of Duffy Development.

In addition, information was provided on various MICAH & Chapter priorities & initiatives, plus ways that individuals can support effective public responses to our worsening affordable housing crisis. Audience members were given an opportunity to comment & ask questions.