State has processed just $817K of $2 7B in federal rent relief nny360.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nny360.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
With thousands behind on rent, new state law sets rules for aid
With thousands of Minnesota tenants behind on rent, a new state law sets the rules for assistance As many as 50,000 Minn. tenants could be helped with unpaid rent. July 12, 2021 4:53am Text size Copy shortlink:
Four months in arrears on her monthly rent of $980, Delia Spencer-Hartwig got some welcome news last week.
The 31-year-old south Minneapolis woman was approved for rental assistance to pay back her landlord, courtesy of a statewide program dispensing federal funds to help renters and landlords affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds have yet to come through, but she can t be evicted from her one-bedroom apartment under a bill passed this month by the Legislature that says tenants cannot be evicted while their application for rental assistance is pending.
Housing California Policy Director Chris Martin told State of Reform how monumental the newly finalized funding is.
“We’ve never seen this kind of commitment. Both on the side of the amount of resources, but also the manner in which they’re addressing it.”
The funding allocations for affordable housing production and the over $2 billion for HomeKeep services are landmark accomplishments, according to Martin. He said the state has never provided more than $1 billion for overall homelessness funding.
The state’s intent to make this funding ongoing is key, he added.
“We’ve never had that commitment from the state, and so that is the first of its kind … That is a huge accomplishment and is due in large part to Asm. Luz Rivas and the Bring California Home Coalition … This is an incredible accomplishment on that front.”
Posted by Amy Perry | Jul 2, 2021 |
What policy do you believe will best address homelessness in your area?
Provide enforcement of community-wide bans on encampments.
Require treatment for addiction or mental issues to be eligible for housing.
Rezoning to promote construction of low-income housing.
Provide funds for rental assistance programs for the homeless.
Construction and acquisition of properties to provide temporary shelter.
View Results
Homelessness in California is on the rise. In fact, the number of homeless individuals in California increased 16% between 2018 and 2019, with more than 21,000 people becoming homeless this year alone. This numerical increase is more than the increase of homelessness in all other states combined, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
An “off ramp” crafted by the Legislature gradually phases it out by Oct. 15.
Written By:
Bill Salisbury / St. Paul Pioneer Press | 7:30 pm, Jun. 30, 2021 ×
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan speak to reporters at the Minnesota state Capitol in St. Paul on Thursday, June 24, 2021, as the Legislature works to finish up its state budget within one week. (Sarah Mearhoff / Forum News Service)
ST. PAUL “The eviction moratorium is ending.”
That message Wednesday, June 30, on a large sign at a Capitol news conference marked the final word on Gov. Tim Walz’s 15-month ban on landlords removing tenants from their properties for failing to pay rent.