A Storytelling Series by HOME Line

 Video Campaign Overview

 What is Tenant Narratives?

Tenant Narratives is a storytelling series brought to you by HOME Line. The stories shared here come from Minnesotans who are advocating for stronger Just Cause and Source of Income tenant protections in Minnesota.

Action Ask:

We were honored to have inspiring speakers at our People-Powered Policy event on June 26; including impacted tenants and State Representative Esther Agbaje, to speak about the importance of Source of Income and Just Cause Protections for all Minnesota renters.  Now is not the time to slow down. Join us in continuing to support these advocacy efforts!

We encourage you to follow Rep. Agbaje’s advice: send the two compilation videos on Just Cause and Source of Income linked below to your state senator and state representative. If you’re unsure who they are, feel free to contact Michael Dahl at michaeld@homelinemn.org  or use this legislative webpage (https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/) to find out who represents you. (The top two individuals are your state-level representatives.)

Below is a sample email message you could use to send to them; however, feel free to write whatever moves you.

Please support Source of Income and Just Cause Protections legislation. If they become law, they would help low-income individuals access stable, affordable housing in communities of their choosing. To help you understand the importance of this legislation, I’ve included two videos explaining the policies as described by renters who need them.

Thank you!

Just Cause Compilation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwokyFvbluc&list=PL31kAOi46TquLqLq1Io28jXa_Xy063scU&index=6

Source of Income Compilation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lAShnAjY-0&list=PL31kAOi46TquLqLq1Io28jXa_Xy063scU&index=1

Background:

HOME Line launched this project as part of our Just Cause and Source of Income policy campaigns. Year after year, tenants and advocates go to the Capitol to share their real stories and push for policies that protect renters. However, we recognize that not everyone has the ability to testify in person during committee hearings. So, we are bringing our stories directly to our elected officials, making sure they hear us loud and clear to help protect tenants in Minnesota.

We invited 21 individuals to share their experiences, discuss the housing challenges they faced, and explain how Just Cause and Source of Income Protections (see description below) could have changed their circumstances. As you listen to these stories from tenants and advocates in our 21-part video series, we encourage you to share your own story. The more voices we bring into the conversation, the faster we can secure meaningful policy changes.

If you’re interested in submitting your own 2-minute testimony, follow our step-by-step guide below and submit your story through the form provided. If selected, we will contact you before submitting your testimony to elected officials.

Tenant Testimony Submissions

Share Your Story – Help Us Push for Stronger Tenant Protections

We invite you to submit a 1-2 minute video sharing your experience. Your story can help push for policy change and protect renters across Minnesota. Google Form Submission Link – Includes fields for Name, Address, and Video Upload

Four Easy Steps to Submit:

1. Name
2. Address (We will keep your address private; we want to find out who your legislators are.)
3. Describe the housing issue you faced
4. Explain how Just Cause or Source of Income protections would have helped

Upload your video using the form below. You can either attach a video file or provide a link to your recorded testimony. If selected, we will contact you before submitting your story to elected officials.

;Google Form Submission Link – Includes fields for Name, Address, and Video Upload

 

Policy Updates Section 

Stay informed about the latest legislative efforts to strengthen tenant protections.

Current Bills in Progress:

• Just Cause Protections: Introduced in both House and Senate.
  • Authors include Senator Pha for SF1671 and House Representative Agbaje for HF 997 
  • Just Cause protections, as outlined in HF 997 (Rep. Agbaje) and SF 1671 (Sen. Pha), ensure that landlords can only evict tenants or refuse lease renewals for legitimate reasons such as nonpayment, lease violations, or property-related issues. These policies aim to prevent unjust evictions, providing renters with stability and safeguarding them from retaliatory or arbitrary displacement.
• Source of Income Protections:
  • Authors Include Senator Oumou Verbten for SF 2097 and House Rep Howard for HF 2021
  • Source of Income protections, as outlined in HF 2021 (Rep. Howard) and SF 2097 (Sen. Oumou Verbeten), prohibit landlords from denying rental applications based solely on a tenant’s legal income source, such as housing vouchers or disability benefits. These protections ensure fair access to housing and help prevent discrimination against renters relying on nontraditional income.

Resources:

• Policy Resources from The Alliances Equity in Place Coalition 
• FAQs about Just Cause and Source of Income Protections