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2003 Legislative Wrap-up By Rachel Callanan Energized by the November 14~h "Homes for All" Convention where over 1,300 housing supporters gathered to name their public policy priorities, HousingMJnnesota hit the ground running with the start of the 2003 legislative session. With the help of the HousingMinnesota Steering Committee, several priorities were selected for our 2003 Legislative Agenda. The top priority was to preserve funding for affordable housing. Our other legislative priorities included: We advocated for a $10 million bonding initiative for permanent and transitional supportive housing. (Outcome.'. This was not included in the $230 million bonding bill that passed.) · We fought for the repeal of the $1OO housing penalty on families who receive MFIP (public assistance) and receive a federal housing subsidy (Public Housing or Section 8 voucher). (Outcome: This penalty was reduced to $50.) · We introduced a bill to create a charitable tax credit for affordable housing. (Outcome: This was not included in the omnibus tax bill, but has strong bipartisan support.) · We sought to reinstate the 4d/ow income rental tax classification which had been eliminated as part of the 2001 property tax reform, or at least mitigate the higher taxes these properties would pay starting next year. (Outcome: 4d was not reinstated, but statutorj/ language was repealed that limited the ability of 4d properties to challenge their assessments.) We supported the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency~ proposal to create a "Working Group on Supportive Housing for Long. Term Homelessness", (Outcome: The Working Group language was passed and the group will be convened in Juf.v 2003.) HousingMinnesota thanks all of you who responded to action alerts, wrote to or spoke with your legislators, and mobilized your own networks around the housing and budget issues this session. It is thanks to your dedication that affordable housing fared better than some areas of the budget, albeit a bittersweet victory. The Budget Took Center Stage The $4.5 billion budget challenge of the 2003 lec session set us back in reachin9 our goal of"Homes forAIlb.v 2012"and meeting the myriad housing needs of Minnesota. HousingMinnesota stuck to our dual messages all session: 1) with scarce housing resources we must prioritize the housing needs of our most vulnerable and low-income households; and 2) affordable housing is essential to Minnesota~ economic strength and competitiveness. These messages resonated with many legislators and helped minimize the cuts to housing programs. $180 $t80 $120 $100 $80 $20 $0 Minnesota Housing Finance Agency ~pprnpriations, 499B-2005 (in millions) '1 ~6.97 ] 9~.99 20~-0 ~ 20~,~ ~0~ T~F (one,tiffs) General Funds (one-tbs.) Minnesota Housing Partnership 4