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Housing in Action

Connected Communities

Communities targeted by racist housing policies are the same communities experiencing higher rates of housing instability today. A housing system that does not invest in low-income, largely BIPOC communities perpetuates exploitation in neighborhoods.

Unaffordable rent leads to unstable housing

Repeatedly moving to find less expensive—and often poorly maintained—housing results in disconnected neighborhoods. Neighbors who don’t know each other can’t organize together. Relationships are essential to creating the community strength and social capital needed to make significant changes in community.

Housing in Action’s work to create connected and powerful neighbors is the heart of our mission. At Housing in Action (HIA), we believe a dignified, stable home is the foundation from which equitable communities are built. Our Connected Communities program was created with this in mind.

A diverse group of community members and housing advocates gather around a meeting table with vibrant orange chairs, collaborating on strategies for equitable and dignified housing. One participant leads the discussion by pointing to a color-coded chart on a wall monitor that outlines plans for affordable housing initiatives in the Twin Cities, while others engage attentively. The space embodies inclusivity and connection, featuring a welcoming kitchen area to foster community spirit.
Three individuals stand together indoors, smiling warmly at the camera. Two are dressed in casual T-shirts, and the person in the center wears a polo shirt. The visible ductwork overhead suggests an informal setting where they engage in meaningful conversations about providing dignified and affordable housing solutions for Minneapolis-St. Paul. This moment captures their shared commitment to empowering communities and advancing housing justice through connection and collaboration.
A diverse group of individuals gathers around a long table in a modern office, smiling and holding meaningful tokens symbolizing their dedication to providing dignified, affordable housing. The open ceiling design fosters an atmosphere of collaboration and empowerment. Board games on the table highlight their shared commitment to advancing community equity in the Twin Cities through creativity and connection.
A diverse group of individuals poses for a photo, symbolizing community empowerment and connection. They wear decorative masks and are seated around a table adorned with a fall-themed tablecloth, reflecting the warmth and vibrancy of equitable housing. The surrounding orange chairs emphasize inclusivity in this welcoming space. A wall-mounted TV in the background subtly highlights the importance of shared experiences in achieving housing justice.
In a bright, welcoming kitchen symbolizing dignified and equitable housing, a woman in a denim shirt waters a potted plant on a green tablecloth-covered table, embodying care for her home. Beside her, another woman smiles while engaged in a craft project, highlighting community connection and empowerment through affordable housing initiatives in the Twin Cities.
Community members gather on a rooftop patio under the clear blue sky in Minneapolis-St. Paul, embodying empowerment and connection. In the forefront, an individual in a light top smiles warmly towards the camera, while another flashes a peace sign, symbolizing unity. Conversations about dignified, affordable housing and advancing equity flow around them, reflecting Housing in Action’s mission to foster housing justice and strong community bonds in the Twin Cities.

Co-creating communities where connections are strong

Recognizing that community power lies within the people living in HIA rental homes, our work centers the voices of our residents in the decisions we make and the projects we pursue. Our goal is to co-create communities where trust among neighbors is high, connections are strong, and historically silenced voices are amplified and heard to transform their neighborhoods.

HIA believes that civic engagement includes meeting your neighbors, getting involved in your child’s school, attending neighborhood gatherings, volunteering, voting, and so much more. We create opportunities to amplify the gifts, skills, and leadership of our residents, collectively creating solutions in community. We broadcast these solutions through policy forums and create spaces for our residents to speak truth to elected officials. Monthly meetings with residents strengthens important relationships between neighbors, businesses, and contractors, creating a platform for residents to gather, connect, and build.

Download Our One-Pager

Being a part of the [HIA] community has brought peace to my family and I. My rent is affordable. I’m able to pay rent, bills, and still live. It’s a blessing. [HIA] gave me a chance when I was straightening my life out. I took that opportunity and ran with it. Now, I’m about my family and living right. I’m a part of a community that needs me.

Corey Williams

HIA Resident

Legislation We’ve Advocated For

  • (PASSED) House File 11 / Senate File 11: Also known as Bring It Home, Minnesota. This bill creates a state rental assistance program for low-income renters who spend more than 30% of their income on rent.
  • (PASSED) House File 2612 / Senate File 3119: Provides Urban Homeworks with gap funding to build affordable housing for households at the 50-60% area median income (AMI) level through 2026.
  • (UNPASSED) House File 685 / Senate File 365: Seeks to create barriers for corporate entities, developers, and contractors converting single-family homes into rental property units.
  • (PASSED) House File 12 / Senate File 22: Allocates down payment assistance funding for first-generation Minnesota homebuyers.

Our Coalitions

Make Your Voice Heard!

Find Your Representative

Check out our podcast, Reclaiming Home

Listen, follow, and give us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/housing-in-action Thanks so much for listening in today! We hope to see you back next month to learn more about all things housing—potential policies, community dreams, hard realities, systemic barriers, celebratory joys—and everything in between! Follow: https://housinginaction.org/ https://hope-community.org/ https://mhponline.org/ Guest Plugs: Our Future Starts at Home: https://ourhomesmn.org/ Yes to Homes MN: https://mhponline.org/policy/yes-to-homes-more-homes-stronger-communities/ VOTE!: https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/ 2026 2026 Candidate Housing Questionnaire: https://mhponline.org/2026-candidate-housing-questionnaire/ Reimagining Affordable Rental Housing: https://hope-community.org/reimagining-affordable-rental-housing/ Learn more about the things mentioned in today’s episode: Cost of Homelessness: https://www.npscoalition.org/post/fact-sheet-cost-of-homelessness, https://louhomeless.org/what-we-do/education/the-cost-of-housing-the-homeless/ Why Don’t Homeless People Just Get Jobs? Many Already Have One. Or Two: https://www.newamerica.org/insights/why-dont-homeless-people-just-get-jobs-many-already-have-one-or-two/ Affordable housing income and rent limits: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/business-services/planning-zoning/inclusionary-zoning/income-rent-limits/, https://metrocouncil.org/Housing/Planning/Affordable-Housing-Measures/2026-Ownership-and-Rent-Affordability-Limits.aspx Out of Reach 2025: https://mhponline.org/publications/out-of-reach-2025/ Minnesota Starter Homes Require a Mid-Range Salary: https://www.realtor.com/advice/hyperlocal/salary-you-need-to-buy-home-minnesota/ Who Benefits From The Mortgage Interest Deduction And Who Misses Out?: https://taxpolicycenter.org/fiscal-facts/who-benefits-mortgage-interest-deduction-and-who-misses-out A History of Racist Federal Housing Policies: https://massbudget.org/2021/08/06/a-history-of-racist-federal-housing-policies/ Fraud in MN: https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2026/08/hard-data-and-context-are-missing-in-minnesotas-overblown-fraud-furor/, https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/factcheck/ Jim Crow of the North: https://www.pbs.org/show/jim-crow-north/ The Gap Report: https://nlihc.org/gap/about, https://mhponline.org/publications/the-gap-a-shortage-of-affordable-homes/ Area Median Income (AMI) Minnesota: https://mn.gov/commerce-stat/energy/area-median-income-in-minnesota/2025.pdf Bring It Home Minnesota: https://www.bringithomeminnesota.org/, https://www.mnhousing.gov/home/local-government/bring-it-home YIMBY vs NIMBY: https://www.womenspress.com/the-yimby-vs-nimby-movement/ Effects of Low-Income Housing on Property Values: https://www.nar.realtor/effects-of-low-income-housing-on-property-values OMS Evictions: https://youtu.be/VlH-Dpx5Mog, https://youtu.be/n9bLdhvwJlE Deconstructing Misconceptions About Affordable Housing | MHP, Hope Communities & Housing in Action

Deconstructing Misconceptions About Affordable Housing | MHP, Hope Communities & Housing in Action

Housing in Action September 10, 2026 9:07 pm

Listen, follow, and give us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/housing-in-action Thanks so much for listening in today! We hope to see you back next month to learn more about all things housing—potential policies, community dreams, hard realities, systemic barriers, celebratory joys—and everything in between! Learn more about the things mentioned in today’s episode: Justin Ellis & The Cruelty of Nice Folks: https://www.thecrueltyofnicefolks.com/ https://justinellis.net/ https://defector.com/ A Good Time for the Truth: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/17/a-good-time-for-the-truth-race-in-mn-chosen-as-next-one-book-one-minnesota-read 'The Good Life in Minnesota': https://minneapolistimes.com/minnesota-and-the-comfort-of-its-own-myth/ Places to start learning more about racial injustice in Minnesota: https://www.mnhs.org/duluthlynchings https://conservancy.umn.edu/items/4c53a14d-801b-4a26-a6ca-b618a625bef1 https://www.mnrealtor.com/blogs/mnr-news1/2020/10/01/mapping-the-legacy-of-racism-in-twin-cities-real-e https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2025/12/in-1931-a-black-family-moved-into-segregated-south-minneapolis-then-the-terror-began/ https://www.tptoriginals.org/mapping-the-roots-of-housing-disparities-in-minneapolis/ https://www.startribune.com/ghost-of-a-chance/601197355 https://nativegov.org/about/our-land-acknowledgement-statement/ https://treatiesmatter.org/treaties/land/1851-Dakota https://iaphs.org/400-years-of-chains-the-over-policing-of-black-bodies-and-the-devaluing-of-black-pain/ Community safety changes in Minneapolis: https://www.mobilize.us/housinginaction/event/970866/ https://www.minnpost.com/glean/2026/06/minneapolis-police-overtime-costs-projected-to-put-mpd-more-than-23-million-over-budget/ https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/minneapolis-democracy-center/ https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/22/minneapolis-city-council-rejects-purchasing-property-public-safety-training-center https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/community-safety/training-wellness-center/ Local bookstores to get a copy: https://www.blackgarnetbooks.com/ https://moonpalacebooks.com/ https://www.magersandquinn.com/ The Cruelty of Nice Folks: White Supremacy in MN w/ AsaleSol Young & Justin Ellis | Reclaiming Home

The Cruelty of Nice Folks: White Supremacy in MN w/ AsaleSol Young & Justin Ellis | Reclaiming Home

Housing in Action July 30, 2026 12:48 pm

Listen, follow, and give us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/housing-in-action Thanks so much for listening in today! We hope to see you back next month to learn more about all things housing—potential policies, community dreams, hard realities, systemic barriers, celebratory joys and everything in between! Learn more about the things mentioned in today’s episode: https://linktr.ee/docamber https://www.tiktok.com/@docamberalton https://www.instagram.com/docamberalton/ Queer Housing Summit: https://www.queerhousingsummit.org/ Ayada Leads: https://www.ayadaleads.org/event-list Upcoming Housing in Action HomeStretch workshops: https://housinginaction.org/events/month/ Displacement of renters in Minneapolis: https://minneapolis2040.com/policies/housing-displacement/ Shoutout Powderhorn Neighborhood: https://www.minneapolis.org/neighborhoods/powderhorn/ NIMBY vs YIMBY: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIMBY, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YIMBY Insurance costs on the rise: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/06/report-minnesota-saw-the-largest-homeowners-insurance-increase-in-the-country Financial considerations for homeownership: https://pwm.gs.com/nam/en-us/insights/wealth-planning/financial-planning/buying-a-house Land trusts in the Twin Cities: https://www.rondoclt.org/, https://www.clclt.org/ Is Homeownership a Scam? with AsaleSol Young & Dr. Amber | Reclaiming Home

Is Homeownership a Scam? with AsaleSol Young & Dr. Amber | Reclaiming Home

Housing in Action July 8, 2026 9:17 pm

Listen, follow, and give us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/housing-in-action Thanks so much for listening in today! We hope to see you back next month to learn more about all things housing—potential policies, community dreams, hard realities, systemic barriers, celebratory joys—and everything in between! Learn more about the things mentioned in today’s episode: Anthony Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/iamantiaging/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-taylor-1ba1688/ Riverside North Developers: https://www.rivernorthbroadway.com/ Cultural Wellness Center: https://www.culturalwellnesscenter.org/ Learn more about Community Investment Trusts: https://investcit.org/ What is an unaccredited/non-accredited investor: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/nonaccreditedinvestor.asp What is liquidity: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liquidity.asp Learn more about Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT): https://www.reit.com/what-reit West Broadway Business & Area Coalition: https://westbroadway.org/ EMERGE: https://emerge-mn.org/ NEON: https://www.neon-mn.org/ What is mutual aid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_aid Minneapolis City Council Ward maps: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/city-council/find-my-ward/ Mercy Corps, the East Portland CIT Corporation (EPCIT): https://catalog.results4america.org/case-studies/community-investment-trust-portland-or, https://antidisplacement.org/profile/portland-oregon/ Community Investment Trusts: Own Your Neighborhood | AsaleSol Young & Anthony Taylor

Community Investment Trusts: Own Your Neighborhood | AsaleSol Young & Anthony Taylor

Housing in Action April 16, 2026 5:39 pm

Listen, follow, and give us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/housing-in-action Thanks so much for listening in today! We hope to see you back next month to learn more about all things housing—potential policies, community dreams, hard realities, systemic barriers, celebratory joys—and everything in between! Learn more about the things mentioned in today’s episode  Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative: https://www.beaconinterfaith.org/ https://www.facebook.com/beaconinterfaith/ https://www.instagram.com/believeinhome/ https://www.youtube.com/user/BeaconInterfaithMN Beacon’s Legislative Agenda: https://www.beaconinterfaith.org/blog/ Learn more about HUD: https://www.huduser.gov/hud_timeline Budget cuts with DOGE at the top of the year: https://www.cbpp.org/blog/doge-driven-hud-cuts-will-make-it-harder-for-people-to-afford-housing-exit-homelessness Assorted lawsuits: https://nlihc.org/resource/four-fair-housing-groups-sue-hud-and-doge-over-canceling-fhip-contracts https://www.relmanlaw.com/cases-MFHC-v-HUD-and-DOGE https://www.publicrightsproject.org/naeh-v-hud-fact-sheet/ Kiddywampus: https://kiddywampus.com/ What’s changing at HUD & how does it impact me? | Housing in Action & Beacon Interfaith Housing

What’s changing at HUD & how does it impact me? | Housing in Action & Beacon Interfaith Housing

Housing in Action March 30, 2026 4:57 pm

Listen, follow, and give us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/housing-in-action Thanks so much for listening in today! We hope to see you back next month to learn more about all things housing—potential policies, community dreams, hard realities, systemic barriers, celebratory joys—and everything in between! Get involved with Land Bank Twin Cities: info@landbanktc.org https://landbanktc.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/landbanktc/ Learn more about the things mentioned in today’s episode: More on the 2008 Financial Crisis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_financial_crisis What does it mean to forfeit your home?: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/forfeiture.asp Mortgage Foreclosure & Tax Forfeiture: https://www.anokacountymn.gov/4271/Mortgage-Foreclosure-Tax-Forfeiture Glossary of Terms – Homeownership: https://myhome.freddiemac.com/resources/glossary Glossary of Terms – Banking: https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/glossary/index-glossary.html Land Banks vs Community Land Trusts: https://communityprogress.org/publications/land-banks-and-community-land-trusts/ 2011 Tornado: https://archives.hclib.org/repositories/sc/resources/minneapolis_northside_tornado_oral_histories Speculative real estate investment: https://emoryeconomicsreview.org/articles/2024/12/24/property-profiteers-the-speculative-forces-shaping-us-housing Innovation from the Great Recession: Land Banks | AsaleSol Young & Aarica Coleman (Land Bank TC)

Innovation from the Great Recession: Land Banks | AsaleSol Young & Aarica Coleman (Land Bank TC)

Housing in Action March 8, 2026 7:00 am

Listen, follow, and give us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/housing-in-action Thanks so much for listening in today! We hope to see you back next month to learn more about all things housing—potential policies, community dreams, hard realities, systemic barriers, celebratory joys—and everything in between! Learn more about today’s speakers: https://housinginaction.org/ https://www.prginc.org/ https://www.ppl-inc.org/ https://hope-community.org/ https://www.modelcities.org/ https://www.alliancehousinginc.org/ Watch Episode 1: https://youtu.be/4SNN7j7DfnQ Watch Episode 2: https://youtu.be/-jcZTh7DE2A S3 E4: Affordable Housing Deep Dive Part 3: Housing Justice Sector | Reclaiming Home

S3 E4: Affordable Housing Deep Dive Part 3: Housing Justice Sector | Reclaiming Home

Housing in Action August 8, 2025 2:51 pm

Listen, follow, and give us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/housing-in-action Thanks so much for listening in today! We hope to see you back next month to learn more about all things housing—potential policies, community dreams, hard realities, systemic barriers, celebratory joys—and everything in between! Learn more about today’s hosts: https://housinginaction.org/support-our-mission/donate/ https://thealliancetc.org/ https://thealliancetc.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=170d26d7cbf195317a91c2d7a&id=e4808e2407 Learn more about the things mentioned in today’s episode: https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/ https://www.hjcmn.org/topa/ https://thealliancetc.org/equity-in-place/ https://www.mncompass.org/profiles/city/minneapolis https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/HJL%20Opportunity%20to%20Purchase%20Info%20One%20Pager%202024.pdf https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/About.aspx S3 E3: Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA) with The Alliance | Reclaiming Home

S3 E3: Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA) with The Alliance | Reclaiming Home

Housing in Action July 7, 2025 7:00 pm

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