News
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uprising around the murder of George Floyd devastated many Black, brown, indigenous and immigrant-owned businesses in the Twin Cities. We know that these businesses play an essential role in building and sustaining the culture, wealth and economic vitality of BIPOC and immigrant communities, and funding from government,…
Authored by Owen Duckworth, Alliance Director of Policy and Organizing, on behalf of Equity in Place, the following commentary was published in the Star Tribune on July 28, 2020 Governor Must Focus on Preventing, Not Postponing, Devastating Wave of Evictions With the crisis inflamed by COVID-19, our current housing diagnosis is dire. The health and…
The Minnesota Housing Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) guides the distribution of millions of dollars in federal subsidies through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. While organizations led by and connected to communities of color and indigenous communities have been historically absent in creating or commenting on the QAP, we possess essential expertise in shaping…
For years, community-based organizations in St. Paul have been engaging and organizing with tenants who have urged city leaders to protect and enhance the rights of renter households. Today, the City Council took important steps toward building lasting renter power with the unanimous passage of the S.A.F.E. Housing ordinance.
Deeply concerned about discussions regarding the possible expiration or addition of new exemptions to the statewide eviction moratorium, Equity in Place sent the following letter to Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, Commissioner Ho on June 30. Download the PDF of the letter here. Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, Commissioner Ho, As housing policy advocates, organizers,…
The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the undeniable connection between housing justice and community health. Building on the strong base of organizing in the Twin Cities, the current crisis has mobilized more renters and allies to demand that both short term relief and longer-term policy change center the needs and leadership of tenants and communities of…
Tomorrow, St. Paul City Council will discuss and vote on amendments to the S.A.F.E. Housing ordinance. While some amendments strengthen the protections for tenants, there are some amendments that will gut the protections and significantly weaken them. If you live in St. Paul, tell your councilmember (emails and numbers below) by 3 p.m. on Wednesday…
George Floyd mural (in progress) by Alliance staff, Ricardo Perez, & WSCO organizer, Sebastian Rivera Last week, we witnessed a brazen and cruel example of Minneapolis police officers violently enacting the white-centering concept of public safety that pathologizes Black bodies in public space and dehumanizes people of color to the point of callously extinguishing life….
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into the spotlight the role of “essential” workers — who are disproportionately low-wealth, immigrant and communities of color — and revealed the racialized and ableist gaps in the essential services those workers need to protect their health and meet their daily needs — including safe, reliable public transit. At our…
In recent election cycles in the Twin Cities, we’ve seen local organizing efforts and groundbreaking campaigns that have elevated leaders of color to local, county and state policy-making positions. But equity doesn’t end with representation. How are organizers and electeds working to advance participatory processes and co-governance that truly shift power and advance policies that…