Melissa Johnson
Lead Attorney – Public Education
Email: melissaj@homelinemn.org
(612)728-5770 x159
Melissa Johnson is the Public Education Lead Attorney at HOME Line, where she leads statewide public education efforts to help tenants, community organizations, and others understand Minnesota housing law and tenant rights. Before stepping into this role, Melissa served as a Housing Attorney, helping more than 2,000 tenants navigate housing-related legal matters.
With more than two decades of legal experience, Melissa has worked with Judicare of Anoka County and practiced in estate planning, providing legal guidance to people facing complex and often deeply personal challenges. Across her career, she has remained committed to making the law more understandable, accessible, and useful to the people it serves.
Melissa went to law school with a goal of advocating for people who may not have the ability to advocate for themselves—a commitment that continues to shape her work today. She especially enjoys translating complex legal information into clear, practical guidance, listening to people’s experiences, and helping people understand their rights so they can feel informed and empowered to advocate for themselves.
She believes the legal system should be accessible to everyone and is passionate about making legal information and support more approachable, particularly for people facing housing challenges.
Melissa earned her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law, her M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas, and her B.A. from Saint Mary’s University. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, including her Border Collie, Nokomis.