St. Paul, MN - Monday night, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed new COVID-19 assistance legislation. The legislation includes an extension of unemployment benefits and assistance for businesses. Not included in the legislation was meaningful housing assistance for Minnesotans. Rep. Michael Howard (DFL - Richfield) who recently authored an op-ed calling for the restoration of housing relief, released the following statement:
“Make no mistake, the lifeline we extended to Minnesota’s working families and small businesses is incredibly important, but so too is the need to keep Minnesotans out of the cold this winter. As a pandemic rages and snow falls, the Senate GOP said no to housing assistance for families struggling to get by. Renters, homeowners, and small ‘mom and pop’ landlords have rent and mortgages due in the new year, and for many there will be no help.
“All of us deserve the safety, security, and peace of mind of a home this holiday season, but Senate Republicans would rather play Scrooge than deliver on the needs of those experiencing housing insecurity.”
In lieu of housing relief proposals being included in the COVID-19 assistance package, Rep. Howard introduced House File 7.
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