More than 580,000 Minnesotan households pay more than 30% of their income towards their housing, which doesn’t leave enough money for necessities. Stable housing is critical to the development of children and the ability of workers to hold jobs.
For me this is personal. When I close my eyes I still see myself, one of four kids, bouncing from house to house. I see my single-mother, a childcare worker, struggling to stay afloat using section-8 vouchers to help pay rent. My mom died in 2020 waiting for access to housing and struggling with mental health, addictions, and heart failure. No one in our community should die waiting for a roof over their heads or holistic medical care.
Here’s what I’ll fight for as your state legislator:
To ensure all Duluthians have safe, affordable, and secure housing we must address the roots of poverty and homelessness and meet people where they’re at, including intergenerational trauma, substance abuse, and mental health free of shame and without stigma.
Expand and preserve affordable housing across all income ranges using public bonding, state matches to local housing trust funds, and incentivizing private socially motivated investors and rental property owners. No one should pay more than a third of their income for rent.
Support for first-time home buyers, especially low-income and households of color, to buy their own home and begin building generational wealth.
Local Government Aid dollars which will allow the City of Duluth to provide vital services while holding the line on property taxes so the burden of providing local services doesn’t fall so heavily on struggling homeowners.
Expungement reform and landlord risk mitigation funds, which will help eliminate the barrier formerly incarcerated people face securing housing, and in preventing incarceration, gender-based violence, and substance abuse which are leading causes of homelessness.
Housing accessibility for those with physical and sensory impairment, and cultural and gender affirming housing with supportive environment and services for unique needs of each community member.
