MICAH News - Year End 2021 |
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Policy Highlights &
Actions
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Minnesota Has a $7.7 Billion Surplus |
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Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released their budget forecast today, showing a projected $7.7 billion dollar surplus.
Representative Alice Hausman, Chair of the Housing Finance & Policy Committee stated, the need for available, affordable housing is great throughout the state and we should seize this moment to invest in providing a safe place for every Minnesotan to call home. Overall, due to past decisions made by the state legislature, and partnering with Governor Dayton and Governor Walz, we are in a strong position to provide help to those most in need. We can make historic investments in housing and assure a brighter future for everyone.
To see the full statement from Chair Hausman and Vice-chair, Rep. Michael Howard click here.
Initial discussions and recommendations to increase funding for: prevention, homeless services, rent subsidies, preserving, rehabbing and building housing that is affordable, training for infrastructure jobs and livable income public assistance benefits are occurring with the MN Interagency Council on Homelessness, people who have experienced homelessness and/or housing crises, providers and advocates!
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We Don't Do This Alone - No One Can
MICAH's Annual Meeting is coming up and you are welcome to join us via Zoom:
Greet friends new and old, learn more about the Bring America Home Campaign, and help us recognize our Community Heroes across the Metro area; as we work together, to address the immediate needs of people at risk or experiencing homelessness and end the systemic inequities that causes homelessness!
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"These case study examples provide a brief look into some of the initiatives and strategies that communities around the U.S. are implementing to achieve the goals of equity and effectiveness."
"All messengers were given extensive training on the subject matter of vaccines, as well as training on motivational interviewing to assist in better engaging people. Initial trainings are supplemented with monthly Collaborative Trusted Messenger meetings with all contracted organizations and led by the MICAH Executive Director, who also previously experienced homelessness."
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MICAH's Board Members discuss the importance of making sure that the people impacted by homelessness and housing crisis are the key decision makers in finding and creating solutions to ensure that everyone has a safe, decent, accessible, and affordable home. |
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Anoka Chapter
Sue Baysden
The MICAH ANOKA Chapter hosted a virtual bus tour on Monday, November 1st. With a full bus, we made five stops on our tour: HOPE 4 Youth, Family Promise in Anoka County, Habitat for Humanity site in Ramsey, Twin Cities Housing Development Corporation, and Park Plaza Cooperative.
Our riders were able to see what various agencies are doing for those experiencing housing insecurity in Anoka County. We are looking forward to hosting another tour next fall.
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Freedom From the Streets
Reprint
Junail Freeman Anderson and Alexis Kramer are featured in this portrait series presented by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism. Junail is also featured in their December 14, 2020, article, Federal aid divides homeless in the Twin Cities, highlighting her advocacy work through FFtS and Street Voices for Change.
Photo above is from the December 21, 2020 sweep of St. Paul's Kellogg encampment, at which Junail and cohort were witness and worked to help people get to safer accommodations.
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Housing For All
On Tuesday, October 26th, MICAH Housing for All Chapter held a virtual version of our bus tour.
This year we 'visited’ and viewed presentations from: Community Mediation & Restorative Services, Inc., Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, IOCP & ODC Housing & Service Partners, Sand Development, LLC, CommonBond, and Age-Friendly Maple Grove.
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Minneapolis Community
Sue Watlov Phillips
December 2021 is an important month for the Blue Line Extension project. Next week, the project team will release the draft report on their community engagement efforts to find route for the blue line extension project.
For the Blue Line Coalition (BLC), this is an opportunity and a moment we must seize with power and creativity, for the love of our communities because as you know, Our Lives are On the Line. Some of your houses and businesses and schools and places of worship or work ARE on the line. So what are we going to do about it? Sending a letter is not enough. This is when we jump into action.
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NorthEast Chapter
John Slade
The NorthEast Chapter’s bus tour this year featured the diversity of housing in the area, visiting the St. Andrews Community Resource Center in Mahtomedi, Solid Ground in White Bear, a Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity development, and talking about the Settled building that is happening at Woodland Hills!
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St. Paul Chapter
John Slade
On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, nearly 31,000 St. Paul voters supported the black, brown, and white renters of the City of St. Paul by limiting the power of corporate and predatory landlords to price them out of their housing. MICAH was there every step of the way, from forming the policy to getting it on the ballot to providing the truth to congregations, countering a veritable storm of disinformation and propaganda. Read more here.
On Wednesday, October 27th, MICAH St. Paul Chapter held a virtual version of our bus tour. Some 'stops' along the way include East Side Freedom Library, The Salvation Army Harbor Light - Bethesda Shelter, and The Village on Rivoli.
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South Chapter Report
Jerry Daily
MICAH South Chapter had a very successful Virtual Bus Tour on October 20th with 75 people in attendance.
We highlighted activities with stops in Dakota County at Dakota County Human Services, outreach support from Ally Services, recent affordable housing developments Dakota County, and a stop at an Apple Valley congregation hearing of support activities for those in need.
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