MICAH News and Information

MICAH News - December 2020

Policy Highlights &

Actions

This year has been a difficult one, on quite a few levels, as we made our way through events this country hasn't seen in nearly 100 years. For all of the grief and frustration, there are many who worked tirelessly to bring food, homes, and a sense of security to our fellow Americans.

Federal Updates:

On December 21st, Congress passed a $2.3 trillion bill that included COVID-19 relief aid and funding the Federal government a full-year (FY2021).

The President has NOT signed this bill into law yet. We may go into a government shut down next week, and these desperately needed resources will NOT be available to help millions of Americans if this bill is not signed into law by the President.

The bi-partisan, COVID-19 Relief bill passed and sent to the President includes:

$25 billion for rental assistance. (Minnesota would receive over $375 million.)
Extends the federal eviction moratorium for 1 month and the use of CARES funding, set to expire the end of this year, to 12/31/21.
$13 billion for enhanced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
Provides direct payments of $600 to adults and $600 per child. Families with incomes under $75,000/year.
$284 billion for Paycheck Protection Program/small business loans.
$20 billion for small business grants and $15 billion for live event venues.
$300 billion for enhanced federal unemployment supplement at $300/week, and temporarily keeping in place pandemic-era programs that expanded unemployment insurance eligibility. This will allow 12 million people to remain on unemployment insurance.
$20 billion for purchase of vaccines, $8 billion for disbursement of vaccines and also provides relief to hospitals.
$82 billion for schools and colleges.

State Updates:

Minnesota Housing Announces $195 Million to Advance Housing Across the State

State and federal resources will leverage $334 million in private and local funding to create and preserve 2,387 homes in Minnesota communities, including rental units and single-family homes. The 73 developments will support more than 5,300 jobs.
$116 Million in bonding for housing passed and signed into law.
High school students who’ve lost their job due to COVID can apply for pandemic unemployment at uimn.org.

Our Latest Video:

MICAH Key Decision Makers

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.

Donate & Keep Your Voice Heard

Chapter Highlights of 2020

This Fall, we re-started the MICAH chapter in Anoka County.

The meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month, at 6:00pm. Currently gathering on Zoom. To join in, contact: Sue Baysden at Suebaysden@aol.com

Housing developments MICAH has supported:

The Depot at Elk River Station

The Crossing at Big Lake Station

Freedom From the Streets - based in Minneapolis and St Paul, continued work on the Envision project, stepped in along with other organizations to assist at encampments in the Twin Cities, and celebrated their first anniversary in May

Housing For All / MICAH NW Hennepin County Chapter

Final Phase of Bottineau Ridge Apartments

Minnetonka-based Duffy Development Co. is planning the third and final phase of the Bottineau Ridge Apartments on 80th Avenue, west of Hemlock Lane. You can view renderings of the apartments here.

“Bottineau Ridge fills an important housing niche in this area,” said Hogeboom, noting it provides housing to families or individuals who may be on fixed or restricted incomes.

The first phase of construction began in 2015 with a 4-story building containing 50 units. A second phase opened last year with an additional 50 units. The third phase, also 50 units, will mirror phase two in design.

The Bottineau Ridge Apartments will include a community room, fitness room, and on-site property management. The third phase is expected to be completed in the summer of 2022.

MICAH also supported:

Beacon's Cranberry Ridge, 18220 Highway 55, Plymouth, MN 55446

MICAH welcomes new organizational member

Community Mediation and Restorative Services

Minneapolis Community - Change and Growth

Protests in South Minneapolis this summer encouraged a global movement. The majority of events were peaceful, however widespread property damage happened as well.

Listen to the impact of civil unrest in this interview with a member of the Chicago & Lake Street Community.

The Envision Community has identified a potential site in north Minneapolis. Learn more about this groundbreaking project, including a video introduction to the history and some of the people behind this endeavor.

MICAH welcomes new organizational member

African Immigrants Lake Council

NorthEast Chapter - On Monday, October 26, we held a virtual version of our Affordable Housing bus tour. This year we 'visited' the St. Croix Family Resource Center, Hope for the Journey Home, St. Andrew's Community Resource Center, Solid Ground, and Habitat for Humanity in Hugo. The tour ended with updates on State and Federal Legislation from MICAH Executive Director, Sue Watlov Phillips.

Read here, for more about our presenters, and a link to a video recording of the event.

Housing Development MICAH supported

Brighton Oaks, in New Brighton, MN

St. Paul Chapter - We won an important battle for renters in St. Paul as part of the coalition that worked to pass the SAFE Tenant Protections, which will go into place on March 1, 2021.

MICAH worked with the HENS (Housing Equity Now St. Paul) coalition, among others, who provided community strength and policy know-how to get these passed. John Slade, our East Metro organizer, presented an overview of the campaign and the new tenant protections along with Tram Hoang, policy advocate for the Alliance. Kirstin Burch, the Fair Housing Coordinator for the City of St. Paul also spoke about the Tenant Protections Implementation Council.