MICAH In The News
Pioneer Press Letters 2/26/24: Meet these 3 housing goals, St. Paul Council
Letter to the Editor, from St. Paul Chapter members: Elaine Tarone, Deena Strohman, and John Slade
“As members of the St. Paul Chapter of MICAH (Metropolitan Council on Affordable Housing), we are very proud of the new St. Paul City Council and its leadership, and we are particularly hopeful that they will maintain a laser focus on meeting each and every city resident’s need for safe, affordable housing…”
The State of Minnesota Housing in 2024
Amy Gage, Minnesota Women's Press, 01/23/24 - in Deep Dive, Housing, Money/Biz, Policy/Politics
“Ramsey County alone is 15,000 units short of the deeply affordable housing needed, says John Slade, east metro congregational senior organizer for the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH).”
Anoka County homeless outreach, shelter program gets state funding boost
Peter Bodley, hometownsource.com, 08/04/23
Anoka County has received state funding to expand its outreach and emergency shelter program for families and individuals who are homeless.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services, Office of Economic Opportunity, allocated $930,000 to the county for the program over two years, which began July 1 and ends June 30, 2025.
As planners contemplate light rail through north Minneapolis, who will pay to help residents and businesses stay?
Kyle Stokes, MinnPost, 06/14/23
Article includes interview with MICAH Minneapolis Chapter Organizer, Candy Bakion
“They’ve seen it again and again, time after time,” said Candy Bakion, an organizer with the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing. When a big transit project runs through a community, “somebody gets displaced, and mostly it’s the people of color.”
With construction beginning perhaps as soon as 2026, planners are trying to be clear-eyed about the project’s potential to fuel gentrification. Hennepin County hired a University of Minnesota researcher to convene an Anti-Displacement Working Group comprised of two dozen representatives of affected communities and governments along the route, including Bakion.
Grantee Stories: Freedom from the Streets
Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Interview with Freedom from the Street’s founder and Executive Director, and MICAH Board member, Junail Anderson
Headwaters sat down with Freedom from the Street’s founder and Executive Director, Junail Anderson, for a conversation about Freedom from the Streets, their work, and vision for a more just approach to homelessness organizing and support.
We hope you’ll spend time getting to know the story of Freedom from the Streets and Junail’s work, in her own words.
MN manufactured home owners big winners in historic 2023 legislative session
Northcountry Cooperative Foundation Blog Post 05/25/23
Post includes Natividad Seefeld, President, Board of Directors Park Plaza, and MICAH Board member.
As the 2023 Minnesota legislative session wrapped up this week, many are calling it one for the history books. From universal free school lunch and breakfast to legalizing recreational marijuana, legislators moved at breakneck speed to pass a comprehensive budget and several major policy changes.
However, unfortunately like many of the communities themselves, one of the overlooked aspects of this session has been an unprecedented amount of funding and policy changes that will impact the lives of manufactured home owners across Minnesota.
Minnesota Legislature doubles funding for teaching students homebuilding skills
The program supplies new affordable housing while teaching trades to high school students.
James Walsh, Star Tribune, 05/29/23
Article includes Khalique Rogers, MICAH Board member.
“Nelson credited Joe Nathan and Khalique Rogers, co-directors of the Center for School Change, for highlighting the program's successes and rallying support at the Legislature.
Rogers, who experienced homelessness when he was younger, said he's not surprised the programs garnered bipartisan backing in what is often a fractured political climate. Now, even more students who have perhaps struggled in other school settings will develop the ability to build their futures.”
Resident-Owned Communities Intersect Housing and Climate Justice
Ray Levy Uyeda, Prism, 05/04/23
Article includes Natividad Seefeld, President, Board of Directors Park Plaza, and MICAH Board member.
“Since purchasing the park [Park Plaza Cooperative]from its previous owners in 2011, residents have improved roads and sewer systems, added more streetlights, implemented water meters at each home, and built a new tornado shelter that doubles as a community center, among other improvements. Until that year, residents had been at the mercy of the park’s owner to respond to infrastructure and environmental problems. The tornado shelter wasn’t easily accessible by wheelchair, neighbors kept to themselves, and residents struggled to tackle the increasingly challenging impacts of climate change.”
Major new study highlights the deadly toll of being homeless in Minnesota
Chris Serres, Star Tribune, 02/12/23
Article includes interview with MICAH Board Member, Freddy Toran.
Toran, who is 60, said he still feels the lasting health effects of being unsheltered for so many years without access to medical care. His knees and back are sore, and he suffers post-traumatic stress from seeing so many of his homeless friends die. Toran has struggled most of his adult life with high blood pressure and is at high risk for a stroke. But it was impossible to stick with a medication regimen while he was homeless because his drugs were constantly being lost or stolen, he said.
"I could easily have died out there," said Toran, who has been in living in his own place since 2015. "Every single day, it was an ongoing thought: If I don't get my medicine, I will get a stroke and pass out in an area where no one could find me. Fear of death was a constant, everyday reality."
Resident-owned communities intersect housing and climate justice
Ray Levy Uyeda, Prism Reports, 01/04/23
Featuring Natividad Seefeld, President, Board of Directors Park Plaza, and MICAH Board member.
“Manufactured and affordable homes are disproportionately susceptible to climate change, but housing cooperatives give autonomy and power back to residents and improve their quality of life.”
Big money scores big with St. Paul council’s plan to gut rent stabilization
John Slade, Minnesota Reformer Commentary, 9/20/22
In its most extreme form, free market fundamentalism claims the market should never be restrained, that the market can do no wrong, and that the market is always the best and only solution.
Well, the “free market” cannot, has not, and will not ensure that everyone has an affordable place to live. That is why this industry needs to be regulated. That is why the citizens of St. Paul voted for rent stabilization.
Minneapolis police precinct struck by gunfire
Diane Sandberg, KARE11, 7/26/22
Junail, MICAH Board Member, is one of the people interviewed while at Hope Avenue.
Just over a third of homeless were vaccinated, despite outreach.
Chris Serres, Star Tribune, 6/19/22
Freddy Toran has been on a mission to persuade people living on the streets to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ever since his 82-year-old father abruptly died from the virus two years ago.
"It's really hard to think about vaccines when you have no transportation and you're too busy worrying about where you have to sleep that night," said Toran, an organizer with Freedom from the Streets, a Twin Cities advocacy group led by homeless people. "But this [virus] is real — as real as it gets."
More Twin Cities area communities embrace affordable housing policies
Shannon Prathe, Star Tribune, 05/28/22
Sue Watlov Phillips, executive director of the nonprofit Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, said it's "critically important" that affordable housing be included in every community.
"We need to make sure everyone, without exception, has a safe, decent, accessible home that is affordable to them," she said.
CALL: Equity — What Advocates Are Asking of Minnesota Legislators
Mikki Morrissette, MN Women's Press, 02/22/22
Sue Watlov Phillips, MICAH Executive Director, joins in the recent Changemakers Alliance conversation of what Advocates are Asking of Minnesota Legislators. Hear what she has to say about the $7.7 Billion 'surplus' and priority housing issues.
MICAH, legislators talk priorities to address homelessness in Anoka County
Emilee Wentland, ABC Newspapers, 2/14/22
“Anoka County leaders and legislators discussed the importance of addressing homelessness and affordable housing in the area at a virtual breakfast Feb. 4. The Anoka County chapter of Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, better known as MICAH, hosted the meeting.”
MICAH, legislators talk priorities to address homelessness in Anoka County
Emilee Wentland, ABC Newspapers, 2/14/22
“Anoka County leaders and legislators discussed the importance of addressing homelessness and affordable housing in the area at a virtual breakfast Feb. 4. The Anoka County chapter of Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, better known as MICAH, hosted the meeting.”
St. Anthony Park Community Councils News
Staff Piece, 11/2021, Park Bugle
“John Slade, of the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, moderated the panel, which included St. Paul Council member Mitra Jalali. The full seminar can be viewed online at www.sapcc.org/housinginsecurityseminar. SAPCC is excited to continue this and other vital topics in our community.”
Aeon affordable housing leader Alan Arthur to transition after 33 years
Aeon press release: 05/27/21
Alan has been a great friend of MICAH, helping thousands of individuals and families have safe, decent, accessible homes that are affordable through the development of new housing and the preservation and rehab of NOAH units.
We were honored to provide him with the MICAH Community Hero award.
1.1 million Minnesota children could qualify for expanded tax credit
Jessie Van Berkel, StarTribune - 03/20/21
"In Minnesota, the expanded credit is estimated to lift 44,000 children above the poverty line and bring another 41,000 closer to that mark, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The poverty line is $26,500 for a family of four."
MICAH and Family Promise in Anoka were very happy to assist in connecting Jessie Van Berkel with families to interview for this powerful and informative article.
MN House of Representatives Preventing Homelessness Division
Wednesday, February 03, 2021
House File 21 - Emergency shelters funding provided, and money appropriated.
Video: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hjvid/92/893282
Testimony from David Frei, Executive Director, Family Promise of Anoka - introduced at 09:57.
Portrait Series - Voices of the Twin Cities
Helen Wieffering, Agya K. Aning and Helena Wegner; Howard Center for Investigative Journalism - 01/04/21
“Junail Freeman Anderson runs a St. Paul, Minn., organization called Freedom from the Streets that helps homeless people find shelter. She said she used to be homeless and is on the verge of homelessness again. Her income from working at stadiums has been cut, she said, since the pandemic forced the cancellation of sporting events.”
“Alexis Kramer said she joined Freedom from the Streets after moving from shelter to shelter. She said she was later hired to help others navigate child protective services.”
Federal aid divides homeless in the Twin Cities
Helen Wieffering, Agya K. Aning and Helena Wegner; Howard Center for Investigative Journalism - 12/14/20
“Junail Freeman Anderson leads a St. Paul, Minn., meeting of Freedom from the Streets on Nov. 6, 2020. Anderson grew up in St. Paul and was homeless more than 10 times before she founded the advocacy group to help others in the same situation.”
“At an early November virtual meeting, Junail Freeman Anderson pressed a Ramsey County commissioner to work harder to house St. Paul’s homeless. As she spoke, some 300 people were living unsheltered in the city.”
St. Paul neighbors have contrasting visions for the future of the leafy Boys Totem Town site
Shannon Prather, Star Tribune - 10/31/20
Some neighbors want Totem Town site to be park; others want housing.
“I would like to see the site have a use that benefits the same community that had to live there when it was used as a detention facility,” said John Slade, an organizer with the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing. “We mostly imprisoned kids of color.”
Neighbors object to Ramsey County plan to convert St. Paul hospital into a homeless shelter
Shannon Prather, Star Tribune - 10/9/20
“We are strongly in favor of more shelter,” said John Slade, community organizer with the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing. “There is a lot of fearmongering going on about what the shelter will do.” … More than half the homeless with whom Slade works have jobs, he said after the meeting.
Among the Homeless You'll Find People More Like You Than You Realize
Monica Nilsson, Minnesota Reformer - 3/30/20
“It’s taken a pandemic, but many Minnesotans are now realizing that though we may think we are independent, or bound only to our network of family and friends, in fact we are all interconnected... Here are some of the stories of people experiencing homelessness on a recent night.”
Brooklyn Park gives nod to developer at NHCC housing site
Kevin Miller, Sun Post - May 26, 2020
"Brooklyn Park gives nod to developer at NHCC housing site". The Brooklyn Park City Council unanimously approved Duffy Development Company as the developer for the NHCC site at 6900 85th Ave. N. ... Duffy proposed a two-phase development project. Phase One would consist of the development of a 75-unit apartment building, with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units, and with 50-55 units utilizing 9% low-income housing tax credits. Another 20-25 units would be market rate. a day care co-op could either be incorporated into the housing or in a stand-alone structure. Phase two could result in development of another 75 units.
With boost from the state, hundreds of emergency shelter beds open for homeless Minnesotans
Chris Serres, StarTribune - 2/4/2020
“Derwin Turner, left, unloaded dozens of foam mats, along with Elim Church Lead Pastor Paul Stephen Olson, center, and KMS owner Ken McCraley, right, into Strong Tower Parish and Elim Church in northeast Minneapolis, Monday, February 3, 2020. Elim Church received $250,000 from a new state fund and will shelter up to 40 men and women as early as this week.”
Homelessness & Affordable Housing: Awareness and Action to find SOLUTIONS!
By J.D. Duggan Pioneer Press - 10/07/19
“It’s to provide an opportunity for the greater community of Stillwater to better understand the growing number of people that are at risk or experiencing homelessness in the Stillwater area,” said Sue Watlov Phillips, executive director of Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing and vice president of National Coalition for the Homeless.
Thinking small to make big difference on homelessness.
Martin Moylan, MPRNews - 12/13/19
“The planning and design for the housing was driven by Street Voices of Change, whose some 250 members are or have been homeless.
“People outside our community are just guessing how people in a homeless situation should live,” said Dewayne Parker, an SVOC leader. “Envision was designed by people with lived experience of homelessness.” ”
Affordable housing is on the minds of East Siders
Marjorie Otto, Lillie News -08/19/2019
The Housing Justice series, hosted by the East Side Freedom Library, wrapped up on Aug. 13 with a conversation between community organizers, storytellers and state and city leaders about housing.
The goal of the series was to learn more about historical policies that created housing discrimination in the Twin Cities, how those policies affect housing today and how to make housing fair and affordable.
Local Advocates Call for More Affordable Housing
CCX Media video - 01/2019
Local legislators and lawmakers spoke about the need for more low-income housing in the northwest suburbs at a breakfast on Wednesday morning. The Housing for All breakfast is an annual event for the community-based coalition that educates and advocates for stable housing for families of modest and low incomes in the northwest suburbs.
Too Much Metal and Lead in Air Near North Mpls
KSTP 5 Eyewitness News, Video - 10/23/18
Neighborhood MICAH housing advocate, Ticiea Fletcher, speaks out about the danger of lead poisoning in our community.
Environmental regulators say poor air quality in north Minneapolis is an urgent problem that needs to be addressed within weeks.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced this week that air quality tests show there is too much lead and metal in the air at an industrial park located south of Lowry Avenue and west of the Mississippi River.
Have you seen MICAH in the news? Let us know.
Related News
How States Can Use Medicaid to Address Housing Costs
Shelterforce, Dori Glanz Reyneri, 06/05/23
These new approvals may be the early stages of a more substantial shift, across many states, toward bringing together Medicaid and housing policy. They also offer a significant opportunity for states and their partners to provide, with federal support, truly comprehensive health services to some of their highest-need populations, especially those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
A Sandwich Shop, a Tent City and an American Crisis
Eli Saslow, NY times, 3/19/23
As homelessness overwhelms downtown Phoenix, a small business wonders how long it can hang on. Long read, many images, important stories.
Minneapolis tiny home shelter in emergency overflow amid dangerous cold
David Schuman, CBS MINNESOTA, 12/26/22
"We have about 20 right now [in overflow], and we absolutely could accommodate more," said Emily Bastian, Avivo's Vice President of Ending Homelessness. "If people come to our doors, we're not going to turn them away. It is dangerous outside."
Bastian says Avivo has outreach teams going tent to tent in the city's homeless encampments.
"Making sure folks are safe and trying to encourage them to come inside," Bastian said. "We're not the only outreach team doing that. There are other outreach teams in the community doing that as well."
‘Life-threatening’ cold has shelters and outreach workers scrambling to get homeless inside
Chris Serres, Star Tribune, 12/22/22
Emergency measures are being rolled out across the state, as county agencies and nonprofits try to prevent people from getting seriously ill or dying in the cold.
Washington County board OKs federal relief funds to cover affordable-housing gap
Mary Divine, Pioneer Press, 7/13/22
“This type of housing will help sustain a workforce here in Washington County to meet the needs of our businesses,” said Commissioner Fran Miron. “I think it’s a great project.”
The county’s CDA is working to secure a site for the new development, focusing on sites in Oakdale and Woodbury close to the Gold Line transit stations, Melissa Taphorn said.
“People at this income level might have cars, but they may not be reliable,” she said. “Being near public transportation is important to us and them.”
St. Paul approves six tiny homes for the homeless near Lake Phalen
Frederick Melo, Pioneer Press, 6/11/22
Six years ago Gabrielle Clowdus looked into the costs of homelessness on healthcare systems in terms of emergency admissions. Her findings alarmed her, and stirred her to action. …She’s now on the verge of opening her first “Sacred Settlement.” The six homes each span less than 300 square feet and cost roughly $60,000 apiece to construct and install.
Service agencies using incentives to encourage people experiencing homelessness to get vaccinated
Rich Reeve, KSTP, 2/15/22
Every Tuesday, Ally Supportive Services and Rescue Now vaccine clinics are serving the homeless community.
Feds give key go-ahead for bus rapid transit linking St. Paul to White Bear Lake
Janet Moore Star Tribune, 12/13/21
“Lamothe said many of the major employers along the line employ essential workers who don't work traditional office hours and who would benefit from "all-day, frequent" transit service. Some of those workplaces include Regions and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare hospitals in St. Paul, M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital in Maplewood and the Maplewood Mall.”
Dakota County eyes youth shelter
John Croman, KARE 11, 11/27/21
“Dakota County looks to convert group home site into a shelter for children between the ages of 12 and 18 who don't feel safe at home.” The article references this as homeless youth shelter but it is more accurately for youth in need of temporary placement through the county.
St. Paul to consider easing development of narrow lots, mother-in-law apartments
Frederick Melo 11/22/21, St. Paul Pioneer Press
“On Nov. 12, the Planning Commission voted 12-2 to forward about a dozen zoning amendments to the city council, which will consider the “1-4 Unit Infill Housing Zoning Study” in coming weeks. It’s a precursor of sorts to much bigger policy discussions likely to unfold next fall.”
Ramsey County shuts down one emergency hotel homeless shelter, second closure imminent
Nick Ferraro, 11/21/21, St. Paul Pioneer Press
“No one will end up back on the streets if they do not want to be, Lattimore said. Housing stability staff worked to find the 175 former hotel residents — about 30 remain at Capitol Ridge — either permanent housing or a spot to stay at other shelters.”
“'And some found places on their own,” Lattimore said. “We can’t obligate where they go. But no one is going without an offer to go someplace else.”
The Democratic Party's 'I Don't See Color' Homeownership Fight, Explained
Michael Harriot, 10/12/21, The Root
“A dispute over two opposing plans for first-time homebuyers shows how colorblind policies ignore racial disparities while actually increasing inequality.”
"This year commemorates the 53rd anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. The truly historic passage of this legislation, in 1968, remains the Nation’s foremost break from past acts of segregation, discrimination, and inequality that permeated our society."
We're Facing a Looming Homelessness Crisis. We Must Act Now | Opinion
Pamela Appea, 3/31/21 Newsweek.com
‘"Homelessness is often characterized as a people problem, but homelessness is the result of a years of structural inequity and structural racism," says Amanda Andere, CEO of Funders Together to End Homelessness, a national grant-making organization that works with private, non-profit and philanthropic partners on preventing and ending homelessness.’
Testing for lead poisoning in children down during pandemic, raising alarms among health officials
By Dylan Miettinen, 12/10/20 Minnesota Reformer
Fewer Minnesota children have received lead tests during the pandemic, which could have lifelong consequences for them — and carry a heavy societal cost.
Brooklyn Park gives nod to developer at NHCC housing site
By Kevin Miller kevin.miller@apgecm.com, Sun Post, May 26, 2020
The Brooklyn Park City Council unanimously approved Duffy Development Company as the developer for the North Hennepin Community College site at 6900 85th Ave. N.