February 2026 Newsletter

Your Monthly N4MN Update 💖 February 2026 💘 Join Neighbors for More Neighbors this Thursday (February 12th) at La Doña Cervecería Brewery for our annual get-together to celebrate the big moves we made in 2025 and to look ahead to our goals for 2026. Heavy apps will be provided for your munching needs, and drinks will be available for purchase at the bar. This event is kid-friendly and is open to newcomers. The more the merrier! Please RSVP for yourself and all guests so we can properly plan. RSVP Now At the annual kickoff, we will be raising funds for two organizations that are helping keep folks in their homes amid the continued presence of federal agents in our state. If you can't make it on Thursday, we encourage you to donate to both of these great organizations! Donate to CANDO Donate to Harrison Neighborhood Association ✒️ Last Call to Sign the Yes to Homes Petition ✒️ The legislative session starts on February 17th and Neighbors for More Neighbors, as part of the Yes to Homes coalition, will be delivering petition signatures to legislators shortly after the start of session. These signatures let legislators know that our housing shortage is unsustainable and that, as a state, we need to make it easier to build homes Minnesotans can afford by passing sensible zoning reforms. Sign the Petition 📆 Upcoming Events 📆 February Member Social Help us celebrate the start of the legislative session by joining a deep dive on our policy goals for this year. Topics will include: Yes to Homes! agenda, Land Value Tax, Just Cause Protections, and more! This member social will be held virtually on February 19th to ensure anyone across the state can join! RSVP Now Start with Home Rally Join Neighbors for More Neighbors at the 4th annual Start with Home Rally! On February 23rd we pack the rotunda and ensure this session  "Starts With Home!" and prioritizes legislation to help solve our housing shortage. After the Rally, stick around to help deliver petition signatures to lawmakers. RSVP to the Rally Stay Tuned for Bill Committee Hearings This year, Neighbors for More Neighbors and the Yes to Homes coalition are pushing for our bill to head to committee within the first few weeks of the session. At those session hearings, it is important that we pack the room with supporters. Be on the lookout for more information as we learn the dates of those hearings! We expect them to be sometime between February 23rd and March 6th, but we often don't know for certain until 48 hours before the hearing. 🏡 Complete our Volunteer Interest Form 🏡 Neighbors for More Neighbors has always been a volunteer-driven, grassroots organization. As part of our new website launch, we also launched a new volunteer interest form. Whether you are a long-time Neighbors supporter or new to our organization, we’d love to help match your interests and skills with opportunities to support our mission. Fill out this form, and we will be in touch soon to get you more involved. With the legislative session starting soon, the Minneapolis 2050 plan approaching, and the new year starting, there are many ways to get involved. Volunteer with Us 📖 Extra, Extra, Read All About It 📖 Last Thursday, the Minneapolis City Council voted to allocate $1 million for emergency rental assistance as families affected by the ongoing federal immigration operation seek help paying bills. Read more about that vote here. Although this is progress, it is a drop in the bucket compared to the need across the state. We encourage you to continue to call on Governor Walz to implement an eviction moratorium. Email Governor Walz Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer New analysis shows that many states considered safe for affordable housing saw the highest rise in rents. Minnesota ranked second-highest on the list, with a 5.74% average rent increase from 2024 to 2025. Read more here. Then read our blog post that dives deeper into why this happened, what other states are doing differently, and what we can do in Minnesota. ‪"Minnesotans believe in looking out for one another. In this case, we can do that by encouraging our representatives at the Minnesota Legislature to pass the Yes to Homes bill." Read this great LTE that makes the case for why we need action now. As we ramp up for the session, N4MN volunteers have been busy writing blog posts, digging into the housing shortage, and exploring how the issue (and the potential solutions) affect all of us. Read about the current state of housing affordability in Minnesota, and how we can make homes more affordable. Concerned about your property tax increases? Read about how adding more homes, especially through infill housing, can keep tax increases down. Want to get more involved this session, but unsure where to start? Read about how to set up a meeting with your legislator and testify at the Capitol or your local city council. We plan to publish additional information as we progress through the first couple of weeks of the legislative session. Check in on our News & Stories page for the latest from Neighbors for More Neighbors. ⏪ January Event Recap ⏪ Three Part Training Series In January, volunteers from across the Yes to Homes coalition attended three training sessions: How to Write an LTE, How to Tell Your Housing Story, and How to Testify & Talk to Your Legislator. Thanks to all who joined those trainings! Do you find these emails informative and helpful? Support our work & keep these emails coming by becoming a sustaining donor HERE. Every dollar helps to continue our work to ensure everyone has access to abundant and affordable housing.