UPDATE 11:20am 8/28/19: WE’VE SENT THIS FINAL VERSION OF THE SIGN-ON LETTER TO THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO THEIR 8/28 1:30pm COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING. IF ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS SIGN-ON BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THE FULL COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE POLICIES, WE’LL ADD AND RE-SEND AGAIN.
Click here to sign-on to the letter as an individual or organization.
The Minneapolis City Council is considering adoption of two new ordinances that strengthen the rights of renters (and prospective tenants) throughout the city. The proposals, would regulate the criteria upon which landlords can screen tenants when they are seeking a rental unit, and would place limits on the amount that can be charged for a security deposit at the beginning of a tenancy.
Both of these proposals will improve fair access to rental housing throughout our community. People of color and low-income renters are disproportionately impacted by aggressive screening criteria that restrict access to housing based on a wide range of arbitrary measures for eviction history, criminal background, and credit scores. Meanwhile, expensive security deposits–sometimes double or triple a month’s worth of rent–contribute to our current affordable housing crisis, pricing low-income neighbors out of the city. The sign-on letter points to a number of studies, statistics, and analyses that demonstrate how such practices harm renters of color and low-income tenants.
On August 8, 2019, after taking into account the the ordinance authors released a revised draft (available here). The Housing Policy & Development Committee is expected to hold a public hearing on August 28 at their 1:30pm meeting. To show your support for the ordinances and the broader need to expand access to decent, safe, and affordable housing opportunities throughout the city, please click here to sign-on to this endorsement letter. The letter, with the list of signatories, will be delivered to the Mayor and City Council at the August 28th public hearing. A PDF sample of the letter is accessible here.
Interested in contacting your Minneapolis City Council Member directly to express support for the ordinances? Find out who represents you and their contact information here.
Want to learn more about these issues and the efforts to improve renters rights in Minneapolis?
- Public needs renters’ perspective on Minneapolis proposal to limit screening
- Tenant screening ordinance: There is a path that can lead to better results for both landlords and tenants
- Renters Respond to “Safe and Affordable Minneapolis” Attack on Tenant Protections
- Alliance Unmasks Landlord Lobby Behind “Safe & Affordable Minneapolis” Campaign
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I believe that any ordinance aimed at trying to get families of any kind into a happy home regardless of advantage is extremely important and should be advocated.