Advocacy in Action

Finishing the Year Strong

Follow @HFMNAdvocacy on Twitter for the latest housing industry updates

This year has provided a big leap forward in the discussion of expanding homeownership opportunities for more Minnesotans. The issues are complicated and interconnected, but throughout the summer we saw the evolution of press coverage of housing issues and the introduction of a comprehensive housing affordability initiative. This collection of proposals will be the basis for the housing debate for the rest of 2021 and the coming year. As this proceeds, the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule for remodeling projects continues to be debated and a legal challenge on the overcharging of building permits moves ahead.

As always, Housing First Minnesota’s work is driven by the dedication and expertise from our committee and task force volunteers and our professional staff. We thank all of them and look forward to finishing the year strong!

Onward,

JAMES VAGLE, VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVOCACY, HOUSING FIRST MINNESOTA

Housing First Minnesota Sues Cities Over Excessive Building Permit Fees

Since Housing First Minnesota’s Housing Affordability Institute first reported on massive building permit surpluses being accumulated by Minnesota local governments in 2019, the topic has been the subject of media reports and legislation at the State Capitol. Now, the issue has found its way to the Hennepin County District Court. In July, Housing First Minnesota filed civil lawsuits against the cities of Corcoran and Dayton over the surpluses these cities have reported in recent years.

Star Tribune Research Elevates Zoning Reform Conversation

In August, the Star Tribune released a deeply researched story that illustrated the devastating impact of outdated and harmful rules that persist in Minnesota’s housing market. One of these issues, the report points out, is the use of local zoning ordinances to artificially keep the price of new homes high, effectively regulating who can afford to live in certain communities. For more than two years, the Star Tribune has investigated zoning practices in the Twin Cities and determined that modern-day zoning policies are one of the reasons the region has the nation’s widest housing equity gap. This recent article has spurred an even greater interest and conversation on the topic of zoning reform and calls for the Legislative Commission on Housing Affordability to begin its work.

Building Code Updates and Agency Rulemaking

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has organized two technical advisory groups related to building code changes. The Flood Resistant Design and Construction group has evaluated proposed construction changes when built in a flood plain. Another group has been looking into frost depth maps in northwestern Minnesota, with a particular focus on the Fargo-Moorhead area.

For five years, the Minnesota Department of Health has been working to enact its own, more stringent, Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule in Minnesota, which would govern the remodeling practices of any pre-1978 home in the state. Following the release of an updated version of the rule in May, Housing First Minnesota organized a coalition of housing groups seeking continued improvement in the rule and the first meeting on the rule in four years. An updated version of the rule is expected to be released by mid-September when the Housing First Minnesotarequested stakeholder meeting occurs.