Press Release: Minnesotans Pay the Price for Inaction on Housing
Friday, May 2, 2025
Contact Yes To Homes Co-Chairs:
Anne Mavity, Executive Director, MHP, anne.mavity@mhponline.org
Cristen Incitti, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of MN, cristen.incitti@habitatminnesota.org
St. Paul, MN — A bipartisan coalition of legislators, housing experts, and advocates came together across ideology and party lines to say, “yes, we need more homes in Minnesota, and now is the time for action.”
“On housing policy, the aspiration ought to be that Minnesotans choose what communities they live in, not let communities pick which Minnesotans get to live there.” – Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-09)
Yet, the no vote on SF 2229 in the Senate this week means that Minnesotans struggling to pay their rent and afford a home have to wait another year before the Legislature will respond to what 80% of Minnesotans are asking for — a home they can afford. The Yes to Homes Coalition is deeply disappointed by the failure of the Legislature to take action in 2025 to address the cost of homes in Minnesota.
We are deeply concerned and disappointed that the status quo remains, when rising housing costs demand bold action. The Yes to Homes Coalition worked in partnership with cities for over a year on this effort to negotiate in good faith a new path forward that helps build more housing that Minnesotans can afford. We introduced a package of bills that incorporated input and feedback from these conversations. We have yet to see any proposals from these opponents that change the status quo.
“We are open to feedback to make these concepts work, what we are not open to — and have gotten to that point with this bill, we are down to the very skin and bones of these policies — is just an answer of No.” – Sen. Lindsey Port (DFL, 55)
Our families and communities across Minnesota will continue to suffer the negative consequences of the housing shortage due to this failure of action by the Legislature. Minnesota voted for bipartisan cooperation in addressing the State’s core needs. This effort has been extraordinary in creating unexpected partners and collaboration to advance more housing. This is what Minnesota is demanding and needs to thrive. Status quo does not produce the homes we all agree that we need.
