Minneapolis Earmarks $1 Million to Help Prevent Evictions

The Minneapolis City Council voted last week to allocate $1 million from the city’s general fund to Hennepin County to help families struggling to pay rent due to Operation Metro Surge.

Council members decided after speaking with community members who feared being picked up by ICEif they went to work.

According to a story published Friday in the Minnesota Star Tribune, statewide eviction filings were above average last year. In fact, they set a record for the most ever, according to Eric Hauge, co-executive director of HOME Line. In January, 2200 evictions were filed statewide. Of these, 855 came from Hennepin County and 501 originated in Ramsey County.

Since Dec. 1, HOME Line reports an 82% increase in requests for financial assistance over the same period one year ago. Of course, much of this was due to the economy, as ICE increased its presence in the Twin Cities in December. Home Line provides free legal assistance for renters.

These numbers may not be a true measure of the impact the presence of 3000 federal immigration agents had on immigrants who’ve decided to shelter in place to avoid being picked up. Eviction filings typically trail delinquent rent. This is due, in part, to legal protections that require housing providers in Minneapolis to wait at least 30 days ater a rent payment was missed to file an eviction notice. Statewide, the waiting period is 14 days.

The potential scale of rental delinquencies caused by tenants not working due to fear or a business closing due to a lack of customers and staff may be catastrophic. It makes sense that as with Covid, then, many activists, as well as members of the Minneapolis City Council have called on Governor Walz to issue a rent moratorium.

Of course, without the backing of the federal government, issuing a rent moratorium means the state would need to find a funding mechanism to make housing providers whole.

While many neighborhood associations, non-profits and rapid response networks have helped raise money to help struggling tenants make rent, it’s likely not a big enough bandaid for the problem.

As we move deeper into February the potential for large evictions will become more clear. Let’s hope solutions do too.