With the successful passage of the Tenant Bill of Rights this May, HOME Line and Legal Services Advocacy Project (LSAP) were recently chosen as one of three finalists for the 2010 Minnesota Nonprofit Award for Advocacy. Both organizations were also nominated for the 2010 Leaders in Public Policy award.
The nonprofit advocacy award, presented annually by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, aims to highlight exceptional advocacy work done by nonprofits that implement effective, successful strategies that have a significant impact on their constituency. The Leaders in Public Policy award, presented by Politics in Minnesota and the St. Paul Public Ledger Capitol Report, recognizes individuals and organizations for contributions to to public policy during the past legislative session.
With the hard work and dedication of the HOME Line organizers, public policy staff, public policy interns, volunteers, and LSAP, HOME Line was able to introduce and pass comprehensive changes to tenant-landlord law during the 2010 legislative session known as the Tenant Bill of Rights. The bill introduces multiple changes to tenant-landlord law, including requiring a receipt for rent paid in cash, requiring landlords to inform tenants of the criteria upon which a rental application in judged, increasing the fine landlords can face for the bad-faith retention of security deposits, and capping late fees at 8% of monthly rent.
In addition to extending recognition to nonprofits for outstanding advocacy work, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits also issues annual awards in the categories of Innovation, Anti-Racism, Responsive Philanthropy, and Small Organizing. Council members will vote on winners from the field of finalists in each category and the winner will be announced in September. Winners of the Leaders in Public Policy award will be selected by an independent panel of public affairs professionals and announced on June 22nd at a reception for nominees in St. Paul.
More information
http://www.minnesotanonprofitawards.org/
http://politicsinminnesota.com/blog/2010/04/leaders-in-public-policy/
