St. Paul, MN — Today, Rep. Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth), presented HF 3403, a bill to create a onetime Emergency Rental Assistance Aid program for Minnesotans at risk of homelessness or housing loss to the Housing Finance and Policy Committee.
Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Minneapolis) presented HF 2687, a bill that would prohibit private equity firms like Blackrock from owning single-family properties and cap other corporate ownership at 50 homes.
Republicans voted against the bills with a 6-7 vote.
Rep. Esther Agbaje and Rep. Liish Kozlowski released the following statement:
"Time and time again, House Republicans show they don’t care about the thousands of Minnesotans fighting for their survival after enduring months of Trump’s political retribution on our state and neighbors. The housing crisis from Duluth to St. Paul is dire; behind every statistic is a Minnesotan making impossible choices between groceries and rent, medicine and rent, childcare and rent, or safety and rent.
"House Republicans voted against providing Minnesotans with Emergency Rental Assistance to that would help prevent displacement, reduce court and administrative costs, protect landlords operating on thin margins, and keep families safely in their homes. Ultimately, Republicans simply don’t care about helping Minnesotans in their time of need.
"House Republicans are also stopping progress on a bipartisan bill that has broad support and would benefit from the committee process. Instead of supporting Minnesotans looking to buy their first home, they have decided to keep corporations front and center.
"DFLers remain committed to this fight and won’t back down. We stand with our neighbors and will keep working to provide relief to the growing housing instability crisis and ensure every Minnesotan has the tools and resources they need to stay in their home.”
Today’s bill presentation can be viewed here.
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