Everything starts with home and that is why the Minnesota legislature needs to substantially invest in housing this year. The state of Minnesota has a record surplus and ACER believes that housing should be one of the top priorities. We need to invest $2 billion in housing this year and fund Bring it Home, Minnesota rent vouchers.

Minnesota is in a housing crisis. Over 500,000 Minnesotans are paying too much for home. This impacts every county in the state and has led to the rise in homelessness. When families are paying too much for home, they are overburdened to afford other basic human needs including education, food, utilities, and healthcare.

Bring it Home, Minnesota, a campaign of over 30 organizations, is working for that big solution. Rent vouchers are the simple, proven policy that ends housing instability. With a voucher, a family or individual only pays 30% of their income to housing, helping working families, seniors, and individuals achieve financial stability.

ACER is asking Governor Walz, Speaker Melissa Hortman, and Senator Kari Dziedzic to go big on housing this year and invest $2 billion in housing. It’s time to Bring It Home, Minnesota.

Jordan Greene is the Director of Organizing at ACER inc.