Six Goals Announced by Governor’s Housing Task Force

The governor-appointed housing task force released its final report and recommendations for improving access to quality, affordable housing.
(Published Aug 27, 2018)

The final report of the Governor’s Task Force on Housing, released by Gov. Dayton on Aug. 21, includes 30 action steps aimed at improving access to quality affordable housing, and building a more vibrant, inclusive economic future for all Minnesotans.

The 70-page report contains six goals and is the culmination of work the task force started last January. The goals are:

  1. Commit to homes as a priority. Create a broader and stronger public commitment to the urgent need for more homes that are more affordable to more Minnesotans.
  2. Preserve the homes we have. Keep the homes we already have, especially those that are most affordable.
  3. Build more homes. Build 300,000 new homes by 2030, across all types, prices, and locations to stabilize prices and meet demand.
  4. Increase home stability. Assist twice as many people at risk of losing their homes because of rent increases, evictions, and heavy cost burdens.
  5. Link homes and services. Build stronger links between where we live and the services we may need to live stable lives.
  6. Support and strengthen homeownership. Create pathways to sustainable homeownership, with a focus on removing barriers for households of color.

—Read the task force’s one-page summary of the goals and recommendations (pdf)

—Read the task force’s full report (pdf)

Report specifically mentions LMC

The League of Minnesota Cities was mentioned at least once in the report in recommendation 3.3 (page 26):

“The Task Force recommends that Minnesota Housing, the Metropolitan Council, and other state and regional agencies join with the League of Minnesota Cities, Metro Cities, and the Regional Council of Mayors to compile and promote implementation of best practices for local governments on strategies to encourage the development of homes and increase diversity in the types of homes available. This includes providing information to local governments on options to incentivize affordable homes through tax abatements, density bonuses, inclusionary zoning, housing trust funds, alternative or modular housing, and other policies.”

City involvement in the task force

The task force was comprised of a group of statewide housing advocates and experts, including two with city connections that were directly appointed by the governor: Mayor Emily Larson from the City of Duluth and Mayor Mike Maguire from the City of Eagan.

—See the list of task force members

League staff attended the full task force meetings and work groups that helped develop the report. The League presented information to the homeownership working group and submitted multiple public comments to the three working groups.

Next steps

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioner Mary Tingerthal will be presenting the report to the League’s Improving Local Economies Policy Committee, which is the policy committee that addresses housing issues. The policy committee will then review the League’s legislative policies in light of the report.

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