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[tousingMinnesota I{omes For Ail By 2012 By Ela Rausch Take Action Now has been the HousingMinnesota mantra for the past six months. During the 2003 State Legislative Session, the campaign engaged thousands of Minnesotans across the state in affordable housing politics. These concerned citizens made countless phone calls, wrote hundreds of letters, and held numerous meetings with legislators. On February 11% HousingMinnesota and the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless co-presented Housing Lobby/ Rally Day at the Capitol, giving Minnesota citizens the opportunity to share their housing concerns with legislators face to face. Participants spent the morning meeting with legislators and educating them on local housing challenges by presenting personal stories, affordable housing briefing papers, and county profiles with affordable housing statistics pertinent to their legislative district. In the afternoon, more than 200 citizens rallied in the Capitol Rotunda, asking state government to minimize cuts to the Minnespta Housing Finance Agency and protect programs that serve our state~ most vulnerable citizens. The annual event attracted concerned citizens from all across the state and produced over 135 meetings with legislators. According to Steve O'Neil, director of CHUM in Duluth, "The day was an important part of how we make democracy work for those who have been removed from the process. It was really a great day, and it was a very welcoming way to get folks involved." Following lobby/rally day, Housing Minnesota joined efforts with the Minnesota Community Action Agencies and the Affirmative Options Coalition to educate Minnesotans on the potential impacts of Governor Pawlenty's (then proposed) budget cuts. Their collaboration resulted in a series of Budget Blitz meetings around the state, which helped raise affordable housing awareness among hundreds of Minnesotans and got residents energized to take further action. Organizing efforts following the Budget Blitz tour led to thousands of phone calls to legislators, and letters to the editor written by concerned citizens were published in several newspapers. HousinqMinnesota and Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action (MAPA) also generated more than 2000 phone calls to legislators durin~ the Virtual March on the Capital on April 1s~. During the last weeks of the legislative session, HousingMinnesota also helped ensure statewide participation in a multi-organization effor~ to submit letters to the editor of local newspapers. Nearly one-half of the letters submitted were generated by HousingMinnesota contacts. Lead Campaign Organizer Donald McFarland also helped coordinate efforts to hand-deliver copies of 550 of the letters to legislators in early May. In the closing weeks of session, HousingMinnesota focused its energies on repealin9 the "$1OO Housing Penalty", a rule affecting families who live in federally subsidized housing or receive Section 8 rental assistance. HousingMinnesota assisted more than 200 families affected by this legislation to take action through phone calls and letters to their legislators. This summer, HousingMinnesota will resume its efforts to educate the public about Minnesota's affordable housing needs. The campaign will have informational tables at professional conferences and community events, and make site-visits to supporting organizations throughout Greater Minnesota. HousingMJnnesota and the Greater Twin United Way also plan to co-host a housing colloquium roi business leaders in the fall. The seminar will cover best practices for employer assisted housing and the need for business leader involvement in broader affordable housing efforts. Ela Rausch is tile Assistant Collaborative Organizer at HousingMinnesota. Contact Ela at 65'] .649. '17'10 ext.. 'i 2'1 or erausch~mhponline.org. AfFordable housing supporters display signs at the Lobby/Rally Day at the Capital on February 1 l[h, Minnesota Housing Partnership 16