Housing Working Group Hears Testimony on the Proposed Off-Ramp for the Eviction Moratorium

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS BILL AND THEIR WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE HAVE AN INFORMAL MEETING TODAY FOR OUR HOUSING WORKING GROUP. CHAIR HAUSMAN AND MYSELF WELCOME TO YOU WE HAVE A FULL LIST OF TESTIFIERS AND WE WILL GIVE EVERYONE TO MINUTES AND WHEN YOU TESTIFY, PLEASE, ANNOUNCE FIRST AND LAST NAME AND IF YOU REPRESENT A COMPANY OR A GROUP, PLEASE, IDENTIFY THAT AND I WILL SAY IS WHO IS FIRST AND WHO IS NEXT BUT FIRST WE HAVE COMMISSIONER WHOLE IS HERE WITH US I APPRECIATE HER JOINING US TODAY AND SEN. DAHMS I SEE YOU HAVE A HAND RAISED. AT WHAT POINT DO YOU WANT TO ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS FOR TESTIFIERS. I THINK WE WILL DO IT AS THEY COME ALONG WE HAVE QUITE A FEW I KNOW SOME OF THEM HAVE OTHER PERMITS THEY HAVE TO RUN OFF TO IF WE CAN GET THROUGH TWO OR TWO OR THREE AND THEN ASK QUESTIONS I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE BEST IF THAT'S OKAY WITH CHAIR HAUSMAN. YES, SURE. THANK YOU SEN. DAHMS. WITH THAT I THINK WE WILL START WITH THE COMMISSIONER, IF SHE IS READY TO GO. I LL TE MY MUTE BUTTON OFF CHAIRS AND MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP IF I HAVE MY PROTOCOL RIGHT FOR BETWEEN SESSIONS I'M JENNIFER WHOLE THE COMMISSIONER OF MINNESOTA HOUSING THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ADDICTIONS MORATORIUM AND RENT HELP MN WE SEE THOSE THINGS AS BEING A HAND-IN-HAND AND CHAIR DRAHEIM DO WANT ME TO TRY TO KEEP THIS TO TWO MINUTES TWO MINUTES OR ONE OR MORE ONE OR MORE FLEXIBLE NATION OF WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU ARE UNMUTE CHAIR. A COUPLE OF MINUTES WOULD BE GREAT YOU CAN GO A LONG COUPLE OF MINUTES. THANK YOU. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW RENT HELP MN IS UP AND RUNNING WE GOT IT RUNNING ON APRIL 20TH SO FAR WE HAVE HAD OVER 20,000 MINNESOTANS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION OF COURSE ESTIMATES ARE ANYWHERE FROM 50 - 80,000 50 - 80,000 MINNESOTANS MAY BE BEHIND ON RENT BUT WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THE STEADY INFLOW OF APPLICATIONS I WOULD SAY WERE STILL IN THE FIRST WAVE WE EXPECTED A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN WE OPENED, BECAUSE THERE HADN'T BEEN RENTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE SINCE WE CLOSED OUR COVID 19 HOUSING ASSISTANCE 19 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ON DECEMBER 7TH WE ARE STILL SEEING THEM COME N A LOT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY REAL SLOWDOWN THEY HAVE BEEN STEADY. LT WEEK WE ANNOUNCED WE HAD COMPLETED THE TESTING OF THE PAYMENT SYSTEMS AND IT STARTED MAKING PAYMENTS, WE HAVE PUT OUT OVER $1 MILLION SO FAR I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND IS EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATED PAYMENT SO PEOPLE TOUCH EACH APPLICATION AND REVIEW IT FOR ELIGIBILITY, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENTITIES TO WHOM THE PAYMENT IS DUE WHETHER THAT'S UTILITIES FOR RENT OR OTHER HOUSING RELATED SERVICES AND THE UTILITIES AND THE OWNERS ARE ALSO PUTTING THEIR INFORMATION INTO THE SYSTEM WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT WE UNDERSTAND THE EFFICACY TO BE PAID WHETHER THEY WANT TO GET PAID BY CHECK OR A DIRECT DEPOSIT AND MAKE SHORT THE RENTER AND THE ENTITY TO BE PAID AGREE ON THE AMOUNT THAT IS PASSED TO DO. IT'S A PRETTY INTENSIVE PROCESS BETWEEN SUBMITTAL AND APPROVAL FOR PAYMENT FOLKS ASK WHY DOES IT TAKE SUCH A LONG TIME WESTERN MARK THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS DUE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHERE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT WE KNOW WHO THE PERSON IS THAT WE HAVE CONFIRMATION OF THE AMOUNT DUE AND OF COURSE WE WANT TO MAKE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS TO THE RIGHT ENTITY BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THE MONEY IS FLOWING. WE DO HAVE A BACKLOG AND I WILL SAY THAT IF YOU HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO PAY YOUR BILLS AND YOU HAVE RENT DUE IF YOU'RE AN OWNER AND STRUGGLING TO PAY YOUR OWN BILLS I GET THE FACT IT'S NOT INSTANTANEOUS IT IS STRESSFUL, BUT WE HAVE A THESE AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE ONCE THE OWNERS GET ESTABLISHED IN THE SYSTEM IT'S THE FIRST ONES IS THE HARDEST WE HAVE NOTICED THERE ARE SOME PRACTICES THAT LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DOING THAT IS MAKING IT EASIER FOR US TO START WITH A COMPLETE APPLICATION WHICH MEANS THERE'S LESS BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN PEOPLE PROCESSING THE CLAIMS AND HAVING TO GO EITHER TO THE RENTER OR THE PROPERTY MANAGER FOR MORE INFORMATION. SETTING UP COMPUTERS AND SCANNERS WHERE THERE ARE LARGE APARTMENT BUILDINGS GIVING RENTERS A LEDGER A PAST DUE RENT SO THEY HAVE THAT FROM YOU AND YOU BOTH AGREE ON THE AMOUNTS. MAKING SURE THAT YOUR RENTERS KNOW HOW TO IDENTIFY YOU IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THEY PICK THE PROPERTY AND THE PERSON FOR WHOM THE PAYMENT IS DUE AND WE ARE SEEING IN PLACES WHERE THE PROPERTY MANAGER OR THE OWNER AND THE RENTER ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO LINEUP THE DOCUMENTS THAT THERE'S LAST BACK-AND-FORTH THAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET FROM A SUBMITTED APPLICATION TO A COMPLETED APPLICATION SO WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO TAKE THE TIME AND WORK TOGETHER TO SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION OBVIOUSLY THE LESS BACK-AND-FORTH WE NEED TO DO THE QUICKER WE WILL BE ABLE TO THK I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSE AND SENATE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE THIS SESSION BY GETTING BILLS FOR THE EVICTIONS MORATORIUM OFFRAMP AS IT'S CALLED AND FOR THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD TOGETHER TO SEE IF WE CAN REACH A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT. ONE OF ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED ON THE EVICTION MORATORIUM'S OWNERS AND RENTERS ALIKE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RULES ARE GOING TO BE WHEN THE MORATORIUM IS LIFTED AND WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS OF WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE THE HIGH VOLUME OF CLAIMS THAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE SYSTEM. I HAVE SAID WITH THIS FEDERAL EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE MONEY IT'S A WIN W WIN, WHEN RENTERS CAN PAY THEIR BILLS AND OWNERS CAN PAY THEIR BILLS THAT'S THE BEST OUTCOME IF THE MORATORIUM WERE TO BE LIFTED PRIOR TO OUR BEING ABLE TO DO THAT AND RENTERS JUST LEFT I WOULD CALL THAT KIND OF A LOSE LOSE SITUATION BECAUSE WE ARE NOT WE DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLTO P PAST DUE RENT THAT DOESN'T ALLOW SOMEONE TO REMAIN IN THE UNIT CONGRESS DESIGNED IT AS A HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM, SO WE CAN'T PAY BACK RENT WHEN A PERSON HAS LEFT SO I CONSIDER THAT THE LOSE LOSE SITUATION THE WIN WIN SITUATION IS WHEN WE HAVE TIME TO PAY HELP THE RENTER PAY THEIR BILL AND HELP THE OWNER PAY THEIR BILL SO NOW THAT THE PROGRAM IS RUNNING AND WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE PAYMENTS ARE BEING MADE WHAT I NEED IS TIME. I KNOW AGAIN IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR THE CHECK IT'S THE URGENCY OF THE NOW I KNOW THAT RENTERS AND OWNERS ARE BOTH HURTING, BUT THE REALITY IS WE HAVE A LARGE PROGRAM THAT CAME WITH SOME RULES AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE WHILE FOR US TO WORK THROUGH THE BACKLOG SO THINK MY HOPE IS WE CAN GET A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT ON THE OFFRAMP THAT WE CAN LET THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA KNOW WHAT THE RULES WILL BE IN THE OFFRAMP GIVES US ENOUGH TIME TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MONEY OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND WE GET THE WIN WIN AND WITH THAT THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY ALLIES IN THE ROOM TODAY IS WE ARE ALSO NOTICING PEOPLE THINK THE ABILITY TO REQUEST THREE MONTHS THREE MONTHS OF FORWARD RENT IS PROBABLY SO UNLIKE HOW EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE USUALLY WORKS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT AREN'T ASKING FOR IT, AND NOW CAN WE ASSIST WITH RENT GOING BACK BUT IF YOU DON'T PROSPECTS YOUR ECONOMICS ARE CHANGING IN THE FUTURE YOU CAN REQUEST THREE THREE MONTHS OF FORWARD RENT AND OF COURSE THAT'S A GOOD INSURANCE FOR THE OWNER TO KNOW SOMEONE WASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PAY RENT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY RENT GOING FORWARD. THERE'S TONS AND TONS OF DETAILS BUT WITH RESPECT TO YOUR TIME AND EVERYONE ELSE YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM TODAY I THINK I WILL STOP THERE AND TAKE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR YOUR TIME. I THINK WE CAN TAKE THIS OFF-LINE BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS FROM THE TREASURY YOU COULD PAY PEOPLE SIGN OFF ON THAT THAT THEY HAVE LEFT. I AM WAITING TO SEE IF ONE OF ONE OF MY STAFF WOULD SPEND ALL THEIR TIME WITH THE TREASURY GUIDANCE CAN STEP IN AND HELP ME OUT HERE WITH THIS QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S NOT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE. I WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT SEN. WOULD MY TEAM GETS ME THE SPECIFIC ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. INC. YOU COMMISSIONER SEN. DAHMS HAS BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND THERE'S BEEN ABOUT 60 CHECKSD- 60 CHECKS SENT OUT IN THE LAST 30 DAYS COULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION MR. CHAIR AND SEN. DAHMS THAT WAS LAST WEEK'S NUMBER AND WE DID TESTING INTENTIONALLY ON A SMALL BATCH OF CHECKS THE WEEK BEFORE LAST BECAUSE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WITH THE LAST STEP OF THE PROCESS WAS TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THE RIGHT AMOUNT TO THE RIGHT ACCOUNTS OR CUT THE CHECKS BUT WE BEEN ISSUING AUTHORIZATIONS TO PAY THROUGH OUR BANK EVERY DAY AND IT'S OVER $1 MILLION AS OF THIS MORNING BUT I THINK TWO MORE TWO MORE BATCHES ARE AUTHORIZED YET TODAY SO IT'S A BIGGER NUMBER THAN THAT IT'S NOT HUGE YET BUT IT'S A BIGGER NUMBER THAN THAT THAT WAS LAST WEDNESDAYS NUMBER. FOLLOW-UP MR. CHAIR. COMMISSIONER HOLT, AT WHAT POINT ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS SET UP SO THESE FOLKS ARE GETTING THESE CHECKS SO THEY CAN BE PAYING THE LANDLORDS. WE ARE LOSING LANDLORDS AND WERE LOSING LOW INCOME HOUSING, IT'S BEING SOLD IN THE OPEN MARKET AND AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THIS SERIOUS AND START GETTING THESE CHECKS OUT I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE WORKING HARD TO DO THIS BUT MAYBE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GET SOMETHING CHANGED AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. YOU SAY YOU HAVE SENT OUT $1 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHAT IS THE TOTAL YOU HAVE TO SEND OUT. COMMISSIONER. MR. CHAIR AND SEN. DAHMS, THE TOTAL THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE STATE I'M DOING THE MATH IN MY HEAD QUICKLY IS OVER A HALF $1 $1 BILLION WE EXPECT TO HAVE THE MONEY WELL INTO NEXT YEAR, SO IT'S SOMETHING WE EXPECT IS GOING TO HAVE A LONGTAIL AND WE EXPECTED TO HAVE A LARGE INFLUX OF APPLICATIONS WHEN WE OPENED AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT AND I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE FOR US TO GET THROUGH THE FIRST WAVE OF APPLICATIONS I'M STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST WAVE THE REASON IT TAKES A WHILE IS BECAUSE FIRST MOST OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE BEING PROCESSED REQUIRE SOME BACK-AND-FORTH WITH EITHER THE RENTER THE OWNER OR BOTH OR IN SOME INSTANCES ALSO WITH THE UTILITY COMPANY SO THERE'S SOME BACK-AND-FORTH SO A COMPLETED APPLICATION IS DIFFERENT THAN A SUBMITTED APPLICATION AND IF IT TAKES US A WHILE TO GET BACK TO THE RENTER OR TO HEAR BACK FROM THE OWNER THAT ADDS TIME TO THE PROCESS AND WE NEED TO CHECK ALL THE BOXES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRING US TO DO BECAUSE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMPLIANCE AND AUDITING AND REPORTING ON THIS I KNOW EVERYONE WISHED IT WAS FASTER BUT IT WASN'T REALLY DESIGNED TO BE INSTANTANEOUS IT WAS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE WE DID ALL THE VERIFICATIONS TO MAKE SURE WE COULD JUSTIFY PAYMENT ACCURACY. I KNOW MINNESOTANS ARE HURTING WHETHER YOU'RE THE OWNER OR THE RENTER THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S A VERY LARGE INVESTMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REALITY IS IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO WORK THROUGH WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SUBMITTED TO BE ABLE TO AUTHORIZ. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SEN. DAHMS ANYTHING FURTHER? REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD. SORRY ABOUT THAT MR. CHAIR. YES, I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP. JUST A COMMENT FROM COMMISSIONER WHOLE IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE LANGUAGE ON THE EVICTION OFFRAMP LEGISLATION THAT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS YOU PLAN ON USING THAT LANGUAGE YOU PLANT USING NEGOTIATIONS IN ORDER TO TRY TO GET SOME OTHER THINGS THE DEPARTMENT IS WANTED FOR SOME TIME I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT BUT I WOULD MAKE THE COMMENT IF IT IS TRUE SHAME ON YOU. WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE AS YOU HAVE AGREED TO THAT ARE HURTING AND WE KNOW THEY ARE HURTING AND I DON'T THINK WERE DOING WHAT WE SHOULD BE COULD BE DOING TO HELP THOSE TO USE THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T- PAY THEIR RENT AND THOSE WERE LOSING THE HOMES BACK TO THE BANKS BECAUSE THE TENANTS AREN'T PAYING RENT AND THEY ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES ARE GOING TO USE THAT AS A BARGAINING TOOL, PLEASE, THINK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT MESSAGE YOU ARE SENDING AS A LEADER OF THAT ORGANIZATION I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD. THANK YOU SEN. I'VE QUESTION IN A QUICK RESPONSE TO SEN. DAHMS AND A QUESTION FOR US AS A GROUP. IT MAY BE WORTHWHILE TO GO OVER THE LANGUAGE OF THE LATEST HOUSE AND SENATE POSITIONS ON THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THE COMMON SPY SEN. DAHMS ARE INCORRECT AS HAS BEEN THE DISCUSSION THERE'S NO PERMANENT POLICY CHANGE IN THE HOUSE OFFER THERE HASN'T BEEN FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS IN THE SEVERAL OFFERS THIS JUST KEEPS COMING UP FROM THE SENATE AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO WALK THROUGH THE STANCE OF EACH BODY THAT'S WHY THIS PUBLIC HEARING PROVIDES THAT OPPORTUNITY AND WE WILL HAVE THE HOUSE POSTED ITS LANGUAGE ON THE THIRD OFFER WE HAVE BADE SO THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION FOR HOW WE MAY WANT TO PROCEED. MY IS THE MINNESOTA HOUSING HASN'T BEEN IN THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE BUSINESS BEFORE THAT'S BEEN A NEW BIG ENDEAVOR THANK YOU TO THE AGENCY FOR WORKING TO GET THE FIRST $100 MILLION OUT THE DOOR LAST YEAR AND THAT COVID ASSISTANCE IN ABOUT 100 DAYS 100 DAYS CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE CHANGES IN TERMS OF AS I UNDERSTAND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ADDED ADDITIONAL PARAMETERS AROUND TS NE WAVE OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE TIMELINE ELEMENTS WHEREAS THE $100 $100 MILLION THAT WAS OUT THE DOOR WAS A LITTLE QUICKER YEAR AGO THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE THIS YEAR IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. MR. CHAIR AND REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I THINK IF YOU WERE A RENTER OR LANDLORD WHO APPLIED FOR COVID 19 HOUSING 19 HOUSING ASSISTANCE ITEM THINK YOU WOULD'VE CHARACTERIZED THAT IS BEING FAST EITHER. I WOULD LET THE COMPANY PASS I THINK IT'S NOT ACCURATE AND IT'S HIS TAKING TIME AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID DIFFERENTLY WITH RENT HELP AM AND IS WE BUILT A BIGGER BACKEND TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE PROCESSING KNOWING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE HUGE IT WAS GOING TO LAST LONGER AND KNOWING THAT WE WOULD HAVE SUCH HIGH VOLUMES SO I WANT TO TO OWN THE FACT IF YOU ARE BEHIND ON RENT OR IF YOU'RE AN OWNER WHO HAS BEEN PAID RENT FOR MONTHS I CAN'T MOVE FASTER. INAUDIBLE. INAUDIBLE. THE CONGRESS IN DECEMBER PAST THE MONEY AND IT WAS SIGNED BY THE LAST PRESIDENT IN THE MIDDLE OF PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION AND THE LAST TREASURY DEPARTMENT WITH GUIDANCE AND THE NEW TREASURY DEPARTMENT CAME IN THEY SETTLED ON A MOMENT WERE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE GUIDANCE SO WE HAD THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED 59 59 DAYS FROM WHEN THE NEW TREASURY DEPARTMENT ISSUED ITS GUIDANCE FOR THE PROGRAM. THAT GUIDANCE SETS THE RULES FOR ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE DOCUMENTATION BUT ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTATION AND CHAIR DRAHEIM I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT A TENANT NEEDS TO CONFIRM IT'S THE PLACE THEY'RE CURRENTLY LIVING IN THEY CAN'T SAY IT'S A PLACE THEY USED TO LIVE IN TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ASSISTANCE AND WE TALKED TO THE TREASURY STRAIGHT OUT ABOUT THIS AND THEY HAVE NOT PUT IN WRITING PERMISSION TO PAY AN OWNER OR HELP PREVIOUS RENTER CLEAR A THAT WOULD HELP THE OWNER AND WOULD FRANKLY HELP THE RENTER PROBABLY WITH THEIR ABILITY TO GET INTO THE NEXT UNIT BUT WE'VE EXPLICITLY ASKED FOR THAT FROM THE TREASURY AND TREASURY HAS NOT PROVIDED IT THEY SAY IT'S A HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM IT'S MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THE UNIT THAT THEY HAVE CURRENTLY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GET THAT INFORMATION IN. I'M FEELING REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD LIKE THIS SOMETHING I MISSED IN YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE TRIED TO TACKLE THREE THINGS AT ONCE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD ANY FOLLOW-UP. I DON'T HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION THAT WAS COVERED QUITE WELL COMMISSIONER JUST A QUICK COMMENT, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND I THINK EVERYONE IS TRYING TO GET MONEY IN THE HANDS OF RENTERS AND OWNERS OF STAFF THIS WEEKEND THAT'S THE UNIFORM GO GOAL. JUST A COMMENT AND THE REASON I ASKED ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS IS IT SEEMS THIS ISN'T THE MINNESOTA SPECIFIC ISSUE IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE I WOULD DIRECT YOU TO A STORY FILE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THIS ACROSS THE NATION GEORGIA HAS DELIVERED.002% OF ITS RENTAL ASSISTANCE ALLOCATION CALIFORNIA HAS ONLY DELIVERED $1 MILLION AND PART OF IT IS BECAUSE THE COUNTRY HAS DELIVERED RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THIS WAY BEFORE IT MAKES SENSE THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO GET THIS GOING AND DO IT RIGHT SO I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND IT TODAY.E TO HEAR MORE ABOUT- INC. YOU REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD I THINK TEXAS HAS GOTTEN OUT $100 MILLION I THINK THERE'S BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM IS REPRESENTATIVE PRIOR. THANK YOU SEN. DRAHEIM AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER WHOLE FOR THE WORK YOUR GROUP HAS DONE. I WANTED TO BRING THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT TAKES TO STAND UP A PROGRAM LIKE THIS FROM MY BACKGROUND IN MEETING LARGE TECHNICAL PROJECTS TO GO FROM THE BEGINNING OF A PROJECT THROUGH DELIVERY THEY HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING IN MY VIEW BEST PRACTICES PARTICULARLY IN THE CARE TAKEN IN TESTING IF YOU WORK AROUND THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS YOU WILL FIND OFTEN TESTING GETS THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AND PROJECT PACE AND I WANTED TO KNOWLEDGE THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN A WAY THAT I THINK BRINGS US A GOOD RESULT AND SOMETIMES A LITTLE MORE TIME PAINFUL THOUGH IT IS I'M NOT MINIMIZING THAT AT ALL FOR THE LANDLORDS AND THE TENANTS, BUT IF THE MONEY WERE GOING OUT INCORRECTLY THEY WOULD BE MUCH AND HAPPIER IN THE LONG RUN AND SO WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO I WANTED TO POINT OUT IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO SAVE US TIME TO FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT IF WE SWITCH GEARS NOW WHEN WERE ABOUT TO HIT THE ACCELERATION POINT WHERE WE WILL START OVER AGAIN I DON'T THINK WE CAN LEARN FROM THAT I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THOSE REFLECTIONS AND COMMISSIONER HO IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT I WOULD WELCOME THAT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ANY QUICK COMMENTS ON THAT. CHAIR DRAHEIM AND REPRESENTAVE WTER I WILL SAY PEOPLE WHO MANAGE LARGE IT PROJECTS HAVE HEARTBURN WE HAD FOUR DAYS TO TEST THE FRONT END TO GET IT OPEN WHICH THEY WOULD SAY WAS PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR FOUR MONTHS TOO LITTLE OR SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE WE ARE TRYING TO MANAGE SPEED BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW BADLY THIS MONEY IS NEEDED AND THAT'S WHY WE GOT APPLICATIONS AND KIND OF HAVE BEEN TESTING THE BACKEND SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT WAS THE WRONG WAY TO DO IT BUT THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WISH I'D GOTTEN IT RUNNING A MONTH EARLIER AND I CAN'T DO BOTH SO I APPRECIATE THAT PROSPECTIVE WE ARE MOVING OUTSIDE THE SPEED OF GOVERNMENT I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS WITH SPEED THAT UNTIL THE COVID 19 19 HAPPEN HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WE HAD NEVER MOVED THIS FAST BEFORE IT SEEMS TO BE THE NEW SPEED OF STIMULUS AND COVID RECOVERY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SEN. PRATT YOU ARE NEXT. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I WILL DEFER TO YOU IF THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THIS QUESTION OR NOT, COMMISSIONER WHOLE I APPRECIATED YOUR PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN AN ISSUE WHERE A LANDLORD AND TENANT WEREN'T WORKING TOGETHER AND IT WAS THE TENANT WHO WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND AS YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR BOTH OF THEM TO WORK TOGETHER THAT SCENARIO POPPED IN MY MIND AGAIN. NOW THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES AND WERE EXPECTING THE TO TO WORK TOGETHER, I WILL BE BLUNT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND THE PROBLEM WE ARE FACING NOW IS CREATED BY THE GOV. AND WE HAVE AN OFFRAMP PLAN THAT PASSED THE SENATE WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WHERE ARE WE AT AND WHAT'S THE HOLDUP AS WE START TO MOVE WE HAVE MORE HELP WANTED SIGNS IN WINDOWS TODAY AND WE HAD AT THE HEIGHT OF THE EMPLOYMENT BOOM. WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO WORK WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE THE WINE THIS DOWN? WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO NORMAL SOONER THAN LATER AND WITH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH RENT HELP AND THE OTHER RESOURCES YOU MENTIONED IN THE NUMBER OF JOBS OUT THERE I THINK WE NEED TO PUT THIS ON THE FRONT BURNER. COMMISSIONER. CHAIR DRAHEIM AND SEN. PRATT, IT IS ON THE FRONT BURNER I KNOW IF YOU'RE MINNESOTAN WHO IS WAITING TO GET YOUR BILLS PAID ARE YOU'VE BEEN OLD RENTS FOUR MONTHS IT WAS FAST ENOUGH I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE ARE WORKING AS FAST AS WE CAN'T I WISH WE HAD A WAY TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM WORK FASTER I THINK THE GOV.'S OFFICE AND WE AT MINNESOTA HOUSING ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HOUSE AND SENATE NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT ON THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THE GOV. AND WE HAVE SAID A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE IS THE BEST DEAL IN THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED THE GOV. WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE ACT ON THIS PERSONALLY I HOPE WE WOULD GET IT DONE IN THE REGULAR SESSION, NOW WE HAVE THIS PROLONGED TIME BEFORE THE SPECIAL SESSION IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE 20 DAYS 20 DAYS LEFT THE SPECIAL SESSION THAT HASN'T STARTED YET AND I THINK IF WE GOT THOSE NEGOTIATIONS GNG WE COULD GET A DEAL IF YOU DO THE SIDE-BY-SIDE I THINK THE HOUSE HAS ADOPTED THE SENATE FRAMEWORK AND SUGGESTED SOME CHANGES, AND I THINK A DEAL CAN DON AND I THINK WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON THE 13TH TO DO IT AND RENTERS AND OWNERS ALIKE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE. IF THE OFFRAMP IS TOO SHORT I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MOVE OVER HALF BILLION DOLLARS OUT AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE WIN WIN IS TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND THIS EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY MOVED $1.6 BILLION TOTAL LAST YEAR AND THIS IS OVER HALF OF BILLION MORE IT'S A ONE THIRD OUR SIZE INCREASE IT HAS A DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY PUT ON IT BY THE CONGRESS AND TREASURY BUT WE KNOW THE NEED IS OUT THERE AND WE ARE SEEING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RENTERS AND OWNERS WORK TOGETHER FOR A COMPLETED APPLICATION. I THINK DECIDING ON THE TIMELINE AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IT IS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND WE ARE READY TO SUPPORT THE HOUSE AND SENATE IN A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO GET OUT THE HALF BILLION DOLLARS. I WILL GIVE YOU THE HONEST ANSWER I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T HAVE A HALF BILLION DOLLARS REQUESTED YET AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE END OF THE FIRST WAVE HAPPENS AND WHEN IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AND WE ARE PROCESSING CLAIMS THAT COME IN I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE SECOND MONTH THE FIRST OF THE MONTH HAPPEN ON ONE JUNE EARLIER TODAY I SAID ONE APRIL WHICH TELLS YOU THE TIMELINE I'M MOVING IN NOW BUT ONE JUNE IS AROUND THE CORNER AND WE WILL FIND OUT WHETHER THAT'S A WHOLE NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT COMES IN AND WE ALSO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE THREE MONTHS OF PAY IT FORWARD IS REAL IF PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THEY COULD REQUEST THREE MONTHS THREE MONTHS GOING FORWARD IF THEY NEEDED I THINK WE WOULD BE SEEING LARGER PAYOUTS THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR. I THINK I'M OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW DON'T ANSWER A QUESTION YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO AS WE HAVE MORE DAYS OFXPERNCE THINK IT WILL BE EASIER FOR US HOPING TO HAVE A DASHBOARD UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS SO FOLKS CAN MONITOR ALONG WITH US IT'S OBVIOUSLY A QUESTION THE PUBLIC AND THE OWNERS AND UTILITY COMPANIES IN THE MEATY AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER YET I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THE FIRST WAVE IS. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. UP NEXT SEN. PRATT DID YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP. YES, SEN. DRAHEIM AND IF I RECALL CORRECT ME IF I AM WRO WRONG, WE ARE PROPOSED BASICALLY A ONE-YEAR OFFRAMP COMMISSIONER IT SEEMS LIKE A YEAR SHOULD BE PLENTY OF TIME I KNOW YOU'VE SUGGESTED THISHY SHOULD BE A HOUSE AND SENATE NEGOTIATED THING, WE KNOW THE GOV. HAS HIS FINGERS INTO EVERY LITTLE ASPECT OF THIS AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ADMINISTRATION CAN YOU TELL US WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THIS STUFF OUT IN A YEAR ANOTHER OF THE STATES ARE HAVING SUCCESS GETTING SOME OF THE AIDE OUT I WOULD THINK A YEAR FROM NOW WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS THING COMPLETELY WOUND DOWN WHAT REASON WOULD I BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DONE IN A YEAR. CHAIR DRAHEIM AND SEN. PRATT, WE SUPPORT A YEAR WE COULD GET MORE MONEY AT THE END OF THE YEAR IF OTHER STATES HAVE AND SPEND MONEY SO IT'S POSSIBLE I JUST KEEP GETTING MORE I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS I NEED TO HELP EVERYONE WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE ECONOMY REBOUNDS AND WHEN PEOPLE GET BACK TO WORK SO THERE ARE FACTORS HERE WITH THE MARCH AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT WHICH DID A SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING FOR THE COVID 19 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT'S MONEY I HAVEN'T STARTED USING IT BECAUSE I'M USING THE MONEY THAT PASSED IN THE DECEMBER CONSOLIDATED BUDGET ACT NOW SO WE HAVE A SECOND ROUND IN MARCH THAT HAS A FEDERAL LENGTH OF USE THAT GOES OUT INTO 2022 SO IT'S PRETTY HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BURN RATE IS GOING TO BE YET WERE GOING TO BE ON THE INCOMING SIDE OF THAT AS OPPOSED TO THE APPLICATIONS HAVE SLOWED AND NOW WHAT WE ARE MAINLY DOING IS GETTING THEM PROCESSED SO I THINK IT'S TOO SOON FOR ME TO SAY BUT I THINK A YEAR I THINK THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE UNTIL ALL THE FUNDS ARE EXPENDED INTO 2022 AND EVEN 2022 AND EVEN IF WE ARE LONG PAST PEOPLE FEELING ECONOMIC CRISIS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PANDEMIC AND FOLKS ARE BACK TO WORK THERE STILL IS A TALE ON THE MONEY AS PROVIDED BY CONGRESS. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SEN. DZIEDZIC. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU MR. HOUSMAN FOR HAVING THIS PUBLIC HEARING I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD WE'VE BEEN GONE A FEW DAYS SINCE WE LAST MET PUBLICLY AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR PEOPLE WITH SO MUCH GOING ON WITH RENT HELP MN TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE ON WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING AND WHAT THEY'RE NEEDING AS WE GET TO THE BUDGET WHAT WE HEARD A LOT DURING COMMITTEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT AND I ALSO WANT TO FOLLOW UP TO WHAT SEN. DAHMS WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER I AM NOT SURE IF HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE THE PROVISION I APOLOGIZE IF I'M OUT OF ORDER BUT THERE IS THE HOUSE HAS A NOTICE PROVISION IN THEIR BILL AND WHEN WE HAD DISCUSSIONS IT WAS SEN. PORT AND SEN. I AND SEN. AHEIAND N. DUCKWORTH HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS I WAS CLEAR I HAVE A LOT OF THOSE EVICTION NOTICES BILLS AND BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SUCH A SPECIAL UNIQUE SITUATION BUT IS SO UNIQUE THAT WE NEED TO GET SOME NOTICE I THINK PEOPLE ARE SO BUSY IN THEIR OWN LIVES THAT THE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS NEED THAT SPLASH OF COLD WATER TO SAY WE NEED THIS EVICTIO MORATORD GETTING THEM SOME TYPE OF NOTICE TO SAY IT'S REAL BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BUSY THEY MAY GET REGULAR NOTICES FROM THE GOOD LANDLORDS SAYING YOU ARE LATE, WHATEVER AND HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL BUT GETTING THEM THE SPLASH OF COLD WATER TO SAY THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS ENDING YOU NEED TO PAY UP THERE IS HELP AND GETTING PEOPLE TO PUSH FOR THAT HELP I'VE BEEN CLEARED THOSE ARE MY BILLS BUT I THINK THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION AND I'M FOCUSED ON IT'S JUST FOR THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT CHANGE IT'S JUST FOR THIS TO GIVE THEM SOME TYPE OF AGAIN IT PUSH TO GET THEM UP AND PEOPLE ARE IN DENIAL PEOPLE ARE BUSY WORKING TO SAY HEY HOW DO I GET HELP AND MAYBE THAT WILL WAKE PEOPLE UP IT WON'T WAKE EVERY ONE UP ONE UP SOME PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO COURT AND MY HOPE IS THE JUDGES AND COURTS WILL TELL THEM GO OVER AND APPLY TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THOSE ARE MY BILLS AND THE HOUSE IS PUSHING IT BUT I'VE BEEN CLEAR AND WE WERE CLEAR BEFORE WE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE THOUGHT SOME NOTICE WOULD BE GOOD AND IT WAS FOR THIS BILL WE CAN HAVE THE DEBATE ON THE PERMANENT CHANGES IT HAS TO GO THROUGH CIL LAWE C HAVE THAT DEBATE THAT YEAR I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THANK YOU MR. CHAIR THANKS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU SEN. DZIEDZIC. WE WILL TAKE ONE MORE ONE MORE REPRESENTATIVE TIES AMEND GO ON TO THE TESTIFIERS I HAVE JANE LOONEY AND EMMA SCHMIDT I BELIEVE FIRST TO GIVE THEM THE NOTICE EPRESENTATIVE TIES. THANK YOU SEN. DRAHEIM. WHAT I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS MORNING DISTRICT 13 AND 14 13 AND 14 HAD A TALK WITH MY LOCAL CHAMBER AND ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS THEY BROUGHT UP AND WE DID A SURVEY WATER FOLKS NEEDING TO CONTINUE AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMPROVING THE ECONOMY. REPRESENTATIVE YOUR AUDIO CUT OUT THERE. I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE ON I CANNOT. WE ARE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF FOLKS WE ARE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF HOUSING PROVIDERS AND WHEN IT COMES TO NOTIFICATION I WILL TELL YOU IF SOMEONE'S NOT PAYING THEIR RENT THEY PRETTY MUCH KNOW IT WE TALK ABOUT HOW BUSY PEOPLE ARE THEY REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN AT HOME THEY HAVEN'T BEEN OUT WORKING, THEY'VE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY SAFE AND STAY AT HOME BUT THEY DO KNOW THAT THEY ALL RENT AND I WILL TELL YOU AS A LANDLORD YOU TALK TO PEOPLE AND YOU PREPARE THEM FOR THINGS. I ALSO KNOW TALKING TO HOUSING PROVIDERS THAT FOLKS ARE NOT APPLYING FOR HELP AND THE HOUSING PROVIDER CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THERE PRETTY MUCH OUT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CHANGING THIS RHETORIC THAT HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE SUCH BAD PEOPLE IN THEIR OUT TO GET YOU I WILL TELL YOU IS A LANDLORD AS A HOUSING PROVIDER I WILL TELL YOU THERE CERTAINLY ARE OTHERS ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO ARE JUST AS HORRIBLE AS WELL. THIS IS EVERYTHING BUT THIS IS DRASTIC FOLKS WE ARE GOING TO LOSE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE ISN'T HOUSING, REALTORS ARE LOOKING FOR HOUSES THEY ARE TALKING TO HOUSING PROVIDERS SAYING WE NEED YOUR HOUSE BUT NOT ONLY THAT PEOPLE DO KNOW WHEN THEY DON'T PAY RENT ESPECIALLY IF IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE IT A SHORTER PIPELINE THAN POSSIBLE BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO GET OUT AND THEY HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK WERE NOT GOING TO RECOVER ANYTHING UNTIL WE GET FOLKS BACK OUT THERE AGAIN WORKING. I AGREE THERE NEEDS TO BE PROPER NOTIFICATION BUT IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THAT LONG I GUARANTEE YOU HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE WORKING WITH TENANTS TO GET PAYMENT NOW. SOME OF THEM ARE REFUSING TO DO IT WE NEED TO DO IS TO FIGURE MESSAGE IT WE HIRE PR AND MARKETING FIRMS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE I'M SURE THIS IS PART OF WHAT THE FIRMS CAN DO NOW WE HAVE TO GET THIS GOING WE HAVE TO GET MONEY TO PEOPLE OR OUR PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE 100 FOLD 100 FOLD BECAUSE WE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE THE HOUSING TO PUT PEOPLE IN THERE GOING TO GET EVICTED BECAUSE THE HOUSE HAS SOLD. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING RIGHT NOW AND WE CAN'T LOOK AT WHAT'S OUR BEST WHAT IS OUR WISH LIST WE HAVE TO GET OUT AND TELL EVERYONE THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS OR WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS IS GOING TO BE A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED WHAT WE WILL HAVE I HEARD THIS MORNING AND I'M HEARING IT FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND QUITE FRANKLY COMMISSIONER HO IF THE GOVERNOR KEEPS HIS EMERGENCY POWERS I DON'T KNOW THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE AN ECONOMY TO REBOUND BECAUSE I HEARD FROM THE DAIRY QUEEN IN COLDSPRING IS ONLY OPEN A FEW HOURS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO WORK AT THE DAIRY QUEEN WE HEARD FROM PAN OF GOLD BREAD COMPANY THEY CAN'T GET THEIR STUFF OUT THAT'S A FOOD SHORTAGE WE'VE HEARD FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS THEY HAD TO TURN DOWN JOBS PROJECTS WHICH WILL NEVER COME BACK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE PEOPLE THE LONGER WE KEEP PUTTING THIS OUT THE LONGER IT WILL CONTINUE SO QUITE FRANKLY COMMISSIONER HO HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE GOV. WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP HIS POWERS SO WE DON'T SEE A REBOUND? THANK YOU. THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE COMMISSIONER ANY COMMENTS. I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST BECAUSE WE HAVE USED SO MUCH TIME ON THIS FIRST WHETHER WE COULD GO THROUGH ALL OF THE OTHER TESTIMONY WITHOUT QUESTIONS SO WE GET THEM ALL IN I THOUGHT ONE OF THE POSITIVES ON THE HEARING. THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA CHAIR HAUSMAN WILL GET THROUGH THEM ALL BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME I AGREE WITH YOU. CHAIR DRAHEIM MAN I SAY IN CLOSING SINCE WE HAVE A GOOD AUDIENCE ON THIS IS IF YOU NEED HELP GO TO RENT HELP MN. ORG OR CALL 211 AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM AND YOU CAN REQUEST A PAPER APPLICATION IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT TO GO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING TODAY AND TALK ABOUT THIS I HOPE WE CAN GET A DEAL DONE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER THANK YOU MEMBERS FOR THE QUESTIONS WE WILL GO INTO THE TESTIMONY HERE. JUST A REMINDER, PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME AND WHO YOU REPRESENT AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE VICTION MORATORIUM OFFERING AN RENT HELP MN KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THE SUBJECT JEAN ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO START US OFF. HELLO I'M JANE LONELY THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND MDM. CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER HO FOR TAKING TIME TO LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE RENT HELP MINNESOTA PROGRAM. WE FEEL IT'S IN DESPERATE NEED TO HELP WITH COMMUNICATION AND I WILL GO THROUGH A FEW ITEMS WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. WE MANAGE PROXIMALLY 4200 UNITS 4,200 UNITS WITH SEVERAL OWNERS LOCATED IN HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY ANOKA AND STEARNS COUNTIES AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE 489,000 0 OF DEBT ON THE BOOKS JUST FOR RESIDENTS WHO GO IN EXCESS OF $1,000 OUR EXPERIENCE WITH RENT HELP LEAVES US WONDERING IF OR WHEN ASSISTANCE WILL EVER, FOR OUR RESIDENTS THE END OF APRIL WE LOGGED INTO THE PROGRAM AND ENTERED ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES WHEN THEY HAD AND THEY STARTED THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO OWED $1000 $1,000 OR MORE AND WE KNOW WAY OF KNOWING IF THAT RESIDENT HAS GONE ON TO THE PORTAL TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS OR WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS WITH THESE PEOPLE. THERE'S ABSOTELY E FROM RENT HELP MN.ORG EVERY TIME WE TRIED TO SEND AN EMAIL IT LITERALLY BOUNCES BACK TO US AS UNDELIVERABLE WE CONTACTED 211 AND THEY LET US KNOW ALL WE CAN DO IS TAKE A MESSAGE AND GIVE IT TO SOMEONE WHO NEVER RETURNS A CALL. WHEN THIS PROCESS STARTED IN MARCH I BELIEVE WE SENT INFORMATION TO GET INFORMATION TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TELLING THEM THAT HELP IS ON THE WAY, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T SEEN YET AND I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT ALL OF THIS TAKES TIME BUT THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION LETTING US KNOW WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS. THEN WHEN WE ENTERED THE INFORMATION FOR THE RESIDENTS WE TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER AND WE SENT THEM A COPY OF THEIR LEASE WE SENT THEM A COPY OF THEIR LEDGER WE SENT THEM A PAPER COPY OF THE APPLICATION SO THEY COULD FILL IT OUT AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OF THEM TELL US THEY HAVE WE HAVE RESIDENTS WERE TOLD US THEY HAD APPLIED ON RENT HELP MN.ORG BUT THEY DON'T SHOW UP IN OUR PORTAL SO WE CAN'T SEE THAT THEY HAVE APPLIED. WE HAVE APPLICANTS THAT ARE IN OUR PORTAL THAT AREN'T OUR RESIDENTS SO OTHER COMPANIES ARE ENDING UP IN OUR PORTAL WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY T REVIET FIVE APPLICANTS BUT COULD ONLY COMPLETE TWO OF THEM BECAUSE THE SYSTEM EITHER FREEZES UP OR DOESN'T LET US PROCEED TO A SECOND STEP. WE HAVE HAD TO THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THOSE RESIDENTS OWED EITHER APRIL OR MAY RENT WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ALL RENT FOR A YEAR AND THEIR PROCESS IS BEING HELD UP ALTHOUGH THEY TOLD US THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR APPLICATION ONLINE SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT CRITERIA IS BEING USED TO PROCESS THE APPLICATION I WOULD HOPE. THIS MOMENT WE NEED TO WRAP UP QUICKLY IF YOU COULD WE HAVE 16 16 MORE TESTIFIERS ANY FINAL COMMENTS. COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNICATION THERE JUST ISN'T ANY. THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE THAT. TESTIFIERS IF PART OF THE BIG DISCUSSION WITHIN THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAS BEEN AS SEN. DZIEDZIC ENTIONED ON NOTICES AND I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY AND AS I HAVE AN APARTMENT IN ST. PAUL I GET NOTICE AFTER NOTICE AFTER NOTICE WHEN YOU DO TESTIFY IF YOU COULD MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THAT HOW YOU HANDLE THAT IF YOU DO IT OR DON'T DO IT SO MEMBERS CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY OUT THERE SO THANK YOFOR E TESTIMONY NEXT IS EMMA SCHMIDT FOLLOWED BY HOME LINE. GOOD AFTERNOON I'M EMMA SCHMIDT I'M HOUSING DIRECTOR AT ELECTION PRAIRIES COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP WORKING THE ACTION AGENCY SERVING CLAY AND WILKIN COUNTIES OF POVERTY FIGHTING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WE'VE SEEN THE HIGHEST NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING PAYMENTS MORE THAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE THE COVID 19 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GAVE US AN IDEA OF THE CURRENT NEEDS IN MINNESOTA FROM THE END OF AUGUST THROUGH DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR 899 HOUSEHOLDS WERE 899 HOUSEHOLDS WERE ASSISTED WITH OVER $1.1 MILLION OF ASSISTANCE AND JUST OUR TWO TWO COUNTIES ALONE WE ANTICIPATE IS GOING TO BE AN EVEN GREATER NEED AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE ONGOING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC WITH KNOWLEDGE LANDLORDS NEED TO BE PAID AND MADE WHOLE FROM THE NONPAYMENT OF RENT AND WE KNOW IT'S ECONOMICALLY IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING RATHER THAN HAVE THEM ENTER IN A SHELTER OR BE READ HOUSED FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS. FUNDING THROUGH RENT HELP MN IS THERE TO HELP PEOPLE AND WE REQUESTED THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS MAINTAINED UNTIL THE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO PROCESS PAYMENTS OR OTHER PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND IT'S VITAL TO HAVE A PLANNED OFFRAMP FOR THE EVICTION MORATORIUM TO AVOID MASS EVICTIONS FOR THE LOWEST INCOME RENTERS IN MINNESOTA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT WE HAVE HOME LINE FOLLOWED BY MID MINNESOTA LEGAL AID. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOME LINE STATEWIDE LEGAL NONPROFIT FOR RENTERS WE'VE ADVISED OVER 6000 HOUSEHOLDS ON 6,000 HOUSEHOLDS ON COVID RELATED HOUSING ISSUES THIS LAST YEAR MINNESOTA HAS SEEN 8% OF A NORMAL YEARS WORTH OF EVICTIONS THIS PAST YEAR WERE TURNING TO A NORMAL YEAR MEANS A MINIMUM 15,000 EVICTIONS SO THIS IS THE PLAN FOR NOT ACTUALLY DISCUSSING AN OFFRAMP OF THE MORATORIUM WERE DISCUSSING AN ON-RAMP TO HOW A LOT OF EVICTIONS WILL RESUME THESE EVICTIONS CAN BE PREVENTED WITH OVER HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, RUSHING IT WILL HARM TENANTS AND LANDLORDS AS WELL SINCE AN EVICTION MEANS THE LANDLORD GETS POSSESSION BUT WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE DISPLACED TENANT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE SEEING A COMMON ISSUE THAT WAS THE NORM FOR TENANTS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, MANY FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS DO NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TIMELY ENOUGH TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT THE FOCUS OF THIS WORKGROUP CANNOT BE ON WHEN MORE EVICTIONS BEGAN BUT RATHER WHEN THE ASSISTANCE CAN BE EASILY SECURED TO KEEP RENTERS HOUSED. SOME SAY THERE WON'T BE A RUSH TO THE COURTHOUSE WITH THIS PROCESS WE WANT TO BELIEVE THAT BUT WITHOUT MEANINGFUL GUARDRAILS IT'S WISHFUL THINKING WITH AN ESTIMATED 69,000 HOUSEHOLDS BEHIND ON RENT AND COUNTLESS RELATIONSHIPS SOURED BY RETALIATORY EFFORTS TO CIRCUMVENT THE MORATORIUM AND MORE THINGS ARE BOILING OVER THE PRESSURE COOKER OF THE PAST YEAR OVER RENT WILL NEED TO DISPLACEMENT OF MONEY AS IT MOVED QUICKLY INTO BE CLEAR THE LANGUAGE IN THE HOUSE BILL PROVIDES A WAY TO DO WITH THE CONCERNS ON THE TENANTS OFTEN REFEED TO AS BAD ALES WE COMMITTED JOINT WRITTEN TESTIMONY EARLIER THIS MONTH OUTLINING SAFETY GUARDRAILS IN SHORT THREE KEY POINTS. FIRST AGAIN OVER HALF MILLION DOLLARS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE LANDLORDS HOLD AND PROTECT TENANTS FROM EVICTIONS IS PLACEMENT OF THE TIMELINE IN THE PROCESS MUST BE DESIGNED TO ENSURE KNOWN AS DISPLACED MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE BUT MIGHT BE UNAWARE OR STILL TRYING TO APPLY OR HAVE APPLIED IN AWAITING. SECOND, REQUIRE ADEQUATE ADVANCE NOTICE ABOUT WHAT IS OLD AND WHEN THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MORE CONFUSING LEGAL LANDSCAPE FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS IN MINNESOTA HISTORY SO THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN WILL BE GIVEN LENGTHY TIMES OF DISPUTED RENT DETAILED ACCOUNTINGS HELP TENANTS LANDLORDS RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS AND THE COURTS AND LASTLY PREVENT IMPROPERLY FILED EVICTIONS FROM NEGATIVELY IMPACTING TENANTS RENTAL HISTORY THROUGH AUTOMATIC EXPUNGEMENT OF THESE CASES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE LEGAL AID FOLLOWED BY HOUSING JUSTICE CENTER. THANK YOU CHAIR DRAHEIM AND CHAIR HAUSMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP I'M ON ELWOOD WITH LEGAL AID. I WANT TO THANK YOU TODAY FOR THE HONOR OF A LONG ME TO TESTIFY IN THIS HEARING AND AS YOU PURSUE YOUR DELIBERATIONS TOWARDS BALANCING THE INTERESTS HERE AND REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THE EVICTION RESPECTFULLY OFFER WHAT WE SEE AS THE THREE OVERARCHING GOALS. THREE OVERARCHING GOALS. FIRST IS TO AT BEST PREVENT AS MANY EVICTIONS AS POSSIBLE AND AT WORST TO MINIMIZE TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE THE NUMBER OF EVICTIONS SECOND, AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS PREVENTING EVICTION AS YOU'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED ENSURING THE RENT OWING AND DO IS PAID TO AND COLLECTED BY LANDLORDS AND ALSO TO ALLOW THE PROCESS TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW EXPEDITED EVICTIONS FROM THOSE ENGAGING DAMAGE AND THIRD TO ENSURE THEY- COURTS OF THE FLEXIBILITY THEY DESPERATELY NEED TO BOTH MANAGE THEIR CASELOADS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AND SCHEDULE APPEARANCES IN TRIALS SO AS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BOTH CONDUCTED EXPEDITIOUSLY BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF DUE PROCESS AND JUSTICE. AS YOU KNOW EVICTIONS ADVERSELY IMPACTED NOT ONLY FAMILIES AND CHILDREN FOR GENERATIONS TO COME THERE'S NO DISPUTE WITH THE STUDIES BOTH HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT EVICTIONS FALL DISPROPORTIONALLY ON PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND FURTHER IT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED HERE AND IN THE PRE-PANDEMIC STUDIES AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH EVICTIONS EXTRACT A HEAVY HEALTH TOLL THE BOSTON STUDY THOSE EVICTESUFFER WORSED HEALTH OUTCOMES ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN IN THOSE FAMILIES AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO HIGHER HEALTH COSTS FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN OFTEN DISCUSSED THIS HIGHLIGHTING THE EXACERBATED ASPERITY'S AND HEALTH ISSUES BUT YOU HAVE THE TOOLS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS OF THE BILL TO FULFILL THESE GOALS AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IN THE LITTLE TIME I HAVE A FEW OF THISSUES AND RONGLY URGE E FOLLOWING TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR FINAL AGREEMENT. FIRST WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PROVISION IN THE SENATE BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE EVICTION PROHIBIT EVICTION FOR TENANTS WHO OF APPLIED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND URGE RENTAL ASSISTANCE BE DEFINED BROADLY TO INCLUDE NOT ONLY FEDERAL FUNDS BUT ALSO EXISTING RENTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STATE THE COUNTY OR CITY. SECONDLY WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO INCLUDE A PREDICTION NOTICE LEGAL AID RECENTLY CONDUCTED A LEGAL RESEARCH INTO PRE-EVICTION NOTICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THE MAY 12TH LETTER TO THEN A MAY COMMITTEE BUT HERE'S WHAT WE FOUND, NOW IN FACT 48 STATES 48 STATES HAVE SOME FORM OF PRE-EVICTION NOTICE FOR EITHER NONPAYMENT OR BREACH OR BOTH THE RANGE FROM THREE - 30 DAYS 30 DAYS ONLY MINNESOTA AND WEST VIRGINIA CURRENTLY HAVE NONE WHATSOEVER BUT MORE SALIENT IS IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. IF YOU CAN WRAP IT UP MR. ELWOOD IT'S TIME TO WRAP IT UP. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THESE NOTICES PROVIDE AMPLE TIME T PROVIDE INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES FOR FOLKS TO COME TOGETHER FINAL WE CAN EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE NEED TO GIVE COURTS THE FLEX ABILITY IN MANAGING THEIR CASELOADS THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT IS THE HOUSING JUSTICE CENTER FOLLOWED BY ESSENCE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP I'M AN ATTORNEY IN LEGAL JUSTICE WORK WITH HOUSING JUSTICE CENTER HOUSING JUSTICE CENTER IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY IN LEGAL ORGANIZATION WITH PRIMARY MISSION TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. IN MY ROLE I VOLUNTEER DURING THE FIRST EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THEN NOW DURING THE MINNESOTA RENT HELP MN I CONTRACT WITH MINNESOTA HOUSING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR RENTERS NAVIGATING THE PROGRAM STATEWIDE THROUGH PHONE HELP AND ALSO IN PERSON POP-UP CLINIC I PERSONALLY ANSWERED OVER 1,000 CALLS ON THIS PROGRAM. I RIMARI WORK WITH EATER MINNESANS ELDERLY MINNESOTANS AND THOSE WERE THE FIRST ON ACCESSING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS HISTORICALLY WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS DURING THE LAST PROGRAM IT TOOK ABOUT FOUR FOUR MONTHS FOR A FAMILY WHO WAS HIGHLY MOTIVATED IN THE LOW LANDLORDS WERE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO GET THE MONEY AND THOSE PEOPLE AND WHILE THIS PROGRAM DEFINITELY THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT FASTER I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE REALITIES OF THE PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA THIS PROGRAM JUST OPENED UP ON APRIL APRIL 20TH AND VERY LITTLE MONEY IS GOING OUT THE DOOR AS WE'VE HEARD TODAY AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE FOR RENTERS IT'S DIFFICULT OR NAVIGATE FOR LANDLORDS AND THEREFORE ANY OFFRAMP PLAN NEEDS TO INCORPORATE THE REALITIES NOT WHAT WE THINK IT SHOULD BE NOT THE MORAL FAILINGS OF WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY WERE PEOPLE WHO NEED THESE RESOURCES BOTH THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING AND PEOPLE TRYING TO PAY THE MORTGAGE. RENT HELP MN IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE LANDLORDS HALT AND STABILIZE FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE IF ERS NOT AN ORDER OFFRAMP IS WILL BE AUGE MR. OPPORTUNITY FOR RENTERS WILL BE DISPLACED IN OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND ALSO FOR LANDLORDS WILL BECOME IN ELIGIBLE FOR THE RENT HELP MN MOST IMPORTANT I WANT TO SAY AS A MINNESOTAN IT WOULD BE A MORAL FAILING OF THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE IF SOMEONE IS FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOME WHEN THERE'S OVER $670 MILLION $670 MILLION OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS TO SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES TO STAY STABLY HOUSED THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS LISA MARVIN. DO WE HAVE LISA MARVIN WITH ESSENCE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. I THINK YOU ARE ON MUTE LISA. SHE APPEARS TO NOT BE UNMUTE BUT WE CANNOT HEAR HER. WE WILL MOVE ON AND MAYBE COME BACK TO LISA THERE YOU A. I'M SEE DEAL OF ESSENCE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WE DO HOMELESS YOUTH HOUSING HOMELESS FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKET RENTAL AND SO FORTH WE HAVE 82 APPLICATIONS IN THE SYSTEM NOW I WANT TO UNDERSTAND 1.7 AND PAST DUE RENT WITH JUST THOSE 82 APPLICANTS IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE AS OWNERS AND MANAGERS ARE SUFFERING OUT THESE ARE 82 82 APPLICANTS THEY CAME AND WE SET UP OUR PROPERTIES WE HAVE GIVEN THEM LETTER AFTER LETTER THE NOTICES LET ME TELL YOU MANY WE HAVE KILLED A FEW TREES WITH THE PAPER WE HAVE SENT OUT WE HAVE GIVEN THE NOTICE IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS HOUSED SO THE NOTICE IS NEVER A LUXURY WE ALWAYS GIVE A FIRST AND SECOND NOTICE I NEED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS 93 RESIDENTS 93 RESIDENTS CURRENTLY NOT PAY MONEY FOR MONTHS HAVE NOT APPLIED THE FIRST TIME AND NOT APPLIED THIS TIME IN MY HEART I KNOW MAY HAVE NO ATTENTION APPLYING THIS OFFRAMP ASKED TO ADDRESS THAT NOW YOU ARE FUNDAMENTALLY IMPACTING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WERE CHALLENGED WITH OTHER ISSUES AND WE NEED THE RENT TO DO THE THINGS TO KEEP THE HOUSE IS SAFE AND HO WE CANNOT HAVE PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO APPLY IN YOU ALLOW ONE YEAR FOR THEM TO SIT THERE AND US DO NOTHING IT DOES NOT WORK I DON'T WANT TO EVICT ANYONE WANT PEOPLE TO STAY FOREVER THAT'S NEVER BEEN OUR ISSUE, PLEASE, DON'T CATEGORIZE PEOPLE THAT WAY IT'S EMPTY NOT TRUE WE HAVE HOUSING AND 38 SITTINGS WE HAVE NOT SEEN ONE PAYMENT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ONE PERSON APPROVED THE FIRST PROGRAM COMMISSIONER HO SAID I CANNOT UNDERSTAND OR IMAGINE THAT WAS NOT SLOW FOR US THE FIRST SYSTEM WORKED WELL WE GOT PEOPLE IN AND WE GOT THEM PAID THE CHECKS CAME REASONABLY CORRECT AND IF NOT THEY WERE CORRECTED THIS IS A NIGHTMARE TO NAVIGATE NOW IT FREEZES WE GET NO RETURN CALLS FROM 211 WE GET NO EMAILS BACK WE HAVE ALL GOOD PEOPLE WE'VE SHARED ON THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE WITH THIS PROGRAM, PLEASE, FIX THEM YOU CAN'T GO TO NEXT SCREEN YOU CAN'T HELP PEOPLE SO WE HAVE TO ALLOW EVICTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE REFUSING TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE IT DOESN'T WORK ANY OTHER WAY AND, PLEASE, HEAR ME IF YOU DON'T ALLOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HURT US TERRIBLY AND, PLEASE, TRY AND GIVE OWNERS THE DECISIONS THEY NEED TO GET THIS MOVING BECAUSE THE GREATER MINNESOTA WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE WHO'S RECEIVED $1 AND WERE REALLY WORRIED THANK YOU. THANK YOU IS TO TESTIFIERS. CAN YOU SEE ME OR HEAR ME. PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. AND OPERATE A NUMBER OF COMPANIES IN MANKATO N I ALSO OWN FOR EXTENDED STAY HOTELS IN MANKATO AND WERE DEALING WITH SOME OF THESE CONCERNS WE'VE DISCUSSED TODAY ON BOTH ENDS I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A PROPERTY MANAGER AND GENERAL MANAGER FOR TEN YEARS WHO IS DEALING WITH AN ISSUE OF THE MORATORIUM WHERE WE CANNOT EVICT A TENANT AT ONE OF OUR ONE OF OUR EXTENDED STAY HOTELS AND IN INCIDENT SHE HAD TO DO WITH REPEATEDLY FOR THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS. EIGHT MONTHS. I'M GAIL FLOORS WITH RIVERSIDE ESTATES IN REGARDS TO THE EVICTION MORATORIUM, WE HAVE A HOTEL GUEST THAT HAS BEEN CREATING 20 POLICE CALLS IF NOT MORE OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS TEN MONTHS INVOLVING GUESTS AT THE HOTEL OR CHILDREN OR STAFF AND WITH THE EVIION MOTORIUM EVEN WITHHE HOTEL I CANS BEEN ARRESTED THREE TIMES SHE THREE TIMES SHE HAS LOST HER CHILD THE LATEST INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED SHE ASSAULTED ONE OF ONE OF OUR HOTEL GUESTS ON CAMERA CAUSED HER TRAUMATIC INJURIES AND PHYSICAL INJURY TWO DAYS LATER SHE WAS ALLOWED TO COME BACK TO THE HOTEL AND I WAS TOLD I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPTION TO NOT HAVE HER THERE EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD COMMITTED A CRIME EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD BEEN ARRESTED I DID NOT HAVE AN OPTION TO NOT HAVE HER THERE. MY ISSUE WITH THIS PART IS ON THE HOTEL SIDE IS WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER GUESTS OR MY STAFF WHO HAVE LOST STAFF DUE TO THIS GUEST. THAT IS FROM THE HOTEL AND THAT THIS REPRESENTS SEVERAL INCIDENTS OVER SEVERAL HOTELS AT SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE THIS VIDEO OF THIS GUEST ASSAULTING ANOTHER GUEST IN THE ASSAULT TAKES PLACE WITH HER AND HER 10-YEAR-OLD OR 13-YEAR-OLD WHO KNEW THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM THEY DO AS THEY, PLEASE, BUT SHE REPRESENTS NOT JUST YOURSELF THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THESE IN OUR HOTELS THAT WE CANNOT REMOVE MISS FLORAS HAS HAD CONTACT WITH THE ATTY. GEN.'S OFFICE THROUGH THE GOV. WE HAVE CALLED HER DIRECTLY AND TOLD HER WE HAVE THE TAPE OF THIS WOMAN IN OUR HOTEL A WOMAN WHO HAD HER CHILDREN TAKEN AWAY A WOMAN WHO IS BEEN CHARGED FOR SELLING DRUGS A WOMAN WHO HAS ASSAULTED ANOTHER GUEST AT THE HOTEL A WOMAN WHO IS THREATENED BY STAFF AND A WOMAN WHO IS CAUSED MY STAFF TO QUIT AND I LOST THAT I HAVE LOST GUESTS AND WHO ALSO STAY AT THE HOTEL BECAUSE THIS WOMAN KNOWS SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ANY RULES REGULATIONS ANY OF IT IT'S JUST STANDARD PROCEDURES THAT WE ASK ALL TO COMPLY WITH WE HAVE NO RECOURSE TO ADHERE TO JUST A STANDARD OF LIVING THIS MORATORIUM IF IT'S EXTENDED ALLOWS THESE PEOPLE O RUN AMOK IN OUR HOTEL SETTING NOT JUST OUR APARTMENT WORLD AND THE THINGS WERE EXPENSING NOW IN THE APARTMENT WORLD WE HAVE 20% OF THESE PEOPLE WHO US MONEY WHICH IS 80 PEOPLE OUT OF FOUR OR 500 PEOPLE THAT'S 20% OF THEM WILL NOT COMPLY WITH FILLING OUT THE PAPERWORK THEY WON'T COMPLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED LAST YEAR AND THEY KNOW THEY WILL NOT GIVE US THEIR W-2 FORM OR THEIR CURRENT PAYSTUB AND WE KNOW THEY ARE WORKING WE FOLLOW THEM WENOW THERE INFUY EMPLED WE TAKE PICRES WE TAKE VIDEO THERE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AND THEY ARE NOT IN A MINORITY CATEGORY THEY'RE NOT IN ANY CATEGORY THEY'RE JUST WORKING THE SYSTEM ONE OUT OF ONE OUT OF FIVE OF THEM RE JUST RIDING THE WAVE AND WE HAVE NO SAFE RECOURSE TO BYPASS THEM TO GET THE MONEY AVAILABLE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT OR COUNTY GORNMENT THEY WON'COMPLY EY WON'T RETURN OUR CALLS THEY WON'T RETURN OUR REQUEST TO HELP FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK WE BEEN VERY DILIGENT IN WORKING WITH THEM ETC. I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF WE HAVE A LOT OF TESTIFIERS I APPRECIATED AIL AND SHAWN JEREMY DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD QUICKLY BEFORE WE MOVE ON. I REPRESENT THE COMPANY IN MANKATO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A POINT A LOT OF LANDLORDS ARE MOM-AND-POP THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND TAKING FOEMENT MECHANISOUT OF THLEASE YOU HAVE A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH TWO PARTIES TWO PARTIES WHO ENTER INTO IT LAWFULLY IN ONE PARTY CAN EXIT AND THE OTHER HAS TO SIT THERE AND GRIN AND BEAR IT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE ABUSE OF BREAKING THE CONTRACT I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS PERSONALLY I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE OF EXPERIENCED THIS AND AS A RESULT OF THE STANDARD FOR THE APPLICATION HAS GONE UP CONSIDERABLY I CAN'T TAKE A RISK, GOT PEOPLE USED TO GIVE A NUMBER 2 THEY SAID YOU GAVE ME A CHANCE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AS LONG AS YOU'RE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AND YOU WANT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE THAT'S BEEN THE MANTRA BUT IT'S NOT SO MUCH AND I CAN'T TAKE THAT RISK ANYMORE BECAUSE I CAN'T EXIT THE CONTRACT. IF THERE'S MONEY COMING IN $670 MILLION SITTING THERE WHEREVER IS SITTING IF YOU CAN START ROLLING IT OUT AND EXTEND THE RELEASE OF THAT AND SHAWN SAID PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PLAY THE GAME AND THAT'S HAPPENING NOW AND THE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY COVID I WORK WITH THEM THAT ONLY TOOK ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS TO WORK WITH THE SYSTEM AND EVER SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN THE BAD ACTORS WERE BEE GAMING E SYSTEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A 30 OR 60 DAY 60 DAY ROLLOUT OF THIS AND BELIEVE ME PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY HAVEN'T PAID THEIR RENT THEY WILL NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM GETS PUT IN PLACE THEY WILL CONFORM THANK YOU. THANK YOU JEREMY WE HAVE RIHANNA ANDERSON FOLLOWED BY THE AFRICAN CAREER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER. GOOD AFTERNOON I'M WITH RENTERS UNITED FOR JUSTICE. I'M ARIANA ANDERSON. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED MORE TIMES MINNESOTA RESIDENTS NEED MORE TIME. BEFORE AN EVICTION IS PUT INTO PLACE THE TIME TO FIND PROPER EMPLOYMENT THE TIME TO FIND SAFE AND AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW ONCE THE EVICTION IS PUT INTO PLACE IN THE EVICTION IS ON OUR RECORD IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND HOUSING IN MINNESOTA. PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC MANY YEARS AGO I WAS EVICTED AND I HAD A HARD TIME FINDING HOUSING TO THE STATE I STRUGGLE FINDING DECENT HOUSING IN FACT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC IN MARCH MY SPOUSE HIS BASE WAS SHUTDOWN AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR OUR FAMILY WITH BASIC NECESSITIES LET ALONE PAY THE RENT AND THERE WASN'T SOMETHING PUT IN PLACE FOR RESIDENTS WE WOULD'VE BEEN EVICTED HE'S BACK WORKING NOW WE ARE HONEST PEOPLE WERE HARD-WORKING AND HONEST AMERICAN FAMILY THAT WANTS TO PAY OUR RENT PEOPLE WANT TO PAY THE RENT WE DO NOT WANT TO NOT PAY OUR RENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT LANDLORDS KNOW MOST PEOPLE I KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM BUT A LOT WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM WHY THEY ARE SO STRESSED AND FACING ANXIETY THAT THEY SHUTDOWN WITH DEPRESSION THEY DON'T KNOW THIS IS OUT THERE SO MAYBE YOU CAN GET THIS OUT TO TENANTS SO THEY CAN APY FOR THIS AND Y HAVE GIVE THEM TIME TO GIVE THEM TIME TO LET THE PAPERWORK TO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO PAY YOU GUYS AND LIKE I SAID FIND EMPLOYMENT FIND SAFE AND AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND THAT'S IT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS THE AFRICAN CAREER EDUCATION AND RESOURCE CENTER FOLLOWED BY URBAN GROUP. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND WORKING GROUP I AM THE HOUSING ORGANIZER AT AFRICAN CAREER EDUCATION AND RESOURCE SOME AND WORKS WITH PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND WITNESS THE PANDEMIC THE STABILIZE THE LIVES OF MINNESOTANS TENANTS HAVE LOST JOBS AND HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES AND MANY WOULD'VE LOST THEIR HOMES IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE EVICTION MORATORIUM FOR EXAMPLE I AM HERE TODAY WITH A GRANDMOTHER WHO CARES FOR HER ABSOLUTELY BE EVICTED FORULD- MORATORIUM. I WANT TO URGE YOU TO CONTINUE STABILIZE HOUSING FOR MINNESOTANS WHILE MINNESOTANS RECOVER FROM THE TRAUMA OF THE CENTURY AS I FIND WORK WHILE THEY RECOVER AND AS THEY FIND CHILDCARE WHILE THE WORLD STARTS TO OPEN UP WE HAVE TO BE GATHERING THE PERSPECTIVE OF TENANTS TO MAKE SURE WE AREN'T CREATING AN ABRUPT EVICTION MORATORIUM I'M HERE WITH NOBLE AND NOBLE DO HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY. MY NAME IS NOBLE AND I HAVE APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE RENTAL SEN-YEAR-OLD S I HAD TWO TWO JOBS I WAS DOING AND COULD NOT CONTINUE MY JOB I WAS SUPPOSED TO RETIRE ON SO IT WAS TOUGH SO I WAS FELL BACK IN THE RENT ET ME APPLY WHEN THE THREAT CAME I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT OTHERWI BUT FOR TWO YEARS TWO YEARS IT'S BEEN SO HARD I'M WILLING TO APPLY SO THEY CAN HELP ME AND THEN THEY SAID IF YOU DON'T PAY YOUR EVICTED I SAID I BEG SO, PLEASE, I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO RR THE BALLEAR WITH US HE US SO PEOPLE ARE DOING I WANT TO TELL YOU I WANT OR YOU TO KEEP THE LAW FOR THE LANDLORD WE ARE LOOKING FOR HELP AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS SO WE CAN BEAR THIS. THANK YOU MA'AM WE E NNING A TTLE LONG ON TE THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS URBAN HOME WORKS FOLLOWED BY HOME AND COMMUNITY. HELLO I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF URBAN HOME WORKS MR. CHAIR HAUSMAN AND CHAIR DRAHEIM THANK YOU FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING. URBAN HOME WORKS IS A 26-YEAR-OLD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORGANIZATION IN MINNEAPOLIAND ST. PL WE DEVELOPND MAINTA 136 UNITS OF 136 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING WE DEVELOP AND RENOVATE PROPERTIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP AS WELL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RESPONSIVENESS IS AT THE CENTER OF OUR WORK. WE ARE HERE TO REITERATE THE REQUEST HAT WE MAINTAIN THE EVICTION MORATORIUM UNTIL AFTER THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDING ACTUALLY RUNS OUT WE ARE A HOUSING PROVIDER FOR NEARLY 500 PEOPLE THE AVERAGE 19 AND $20,000 A YEAR AND A 29%- OF THOSE RESIDENTS THAT COME TO US DIRECTLY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS OUR PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN TO WORK WITH RESIDENTS AS NEEDED WHEN THEY HIT A FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY THAT MAKES PAYING RENT HARDER WE HAVE USED VARIOUS FORMS OF COMMUNICATION TO ALERT RESIDENTS TO THE ASSISTANCE INCLUDING TEXT MESSAGES PHONE CALLS EMAIL DIRECT MAIL AND IN PERSON COMMUNICATION. WE'RE WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR RESIDENTS TO UBMIT APPLICATIONS IT IS A SLOW PROCESS IS AN ARDUOUS PROCESS BUT IT'S WORTH IT BECAUSE STABILIZATION IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR WORK TYPICALLY FAMILIES IN HER HOUSING AVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME FINDING STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EVICTIONS ON THE RECORDS WILL ONLY MAKE FUTURE STABILITY KNOWS THAT EARLY OFFER LEAD TO HIGH DISPLACEMENT AND INCREASE RATES OF HOMELESSNESS WHICH ARE CITY THE CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH THE MONEY IS HERE AND AS COMMISSIONER HO HAS SHARED THE PROCESS IS MOVING I ASK ON BEHALF OF OUR 500 500 RENTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSING AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING LANDLORD THAT WE MAINTAIN THE MORATORIUM UNTIL THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING NO LONGER EXISTS THROUGH THE FUNDG THSTATE N ENSURE LANDLDS CAN ENSURE LANDLORDS HAVE CONSISTENT RENTAL INCOME AS THE COMMISSIONER STATED SEVERAL TIMES THIS IS TRULY A WIN FOR BOTH RENTERS AND LANDLORDS LIKE OURSELVES. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SHARE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS FORUM AND FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS HOPE COMMUNITY FOLLOWED BY VOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK. I'M THAT COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT HOME COMMUNITY WE REPRESENT BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS OUR COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP PROGRAM HAS TENANTS BECOME HOMEOWNERS WE WORK WITH CURRENT RENTERS WHO WANT TO BE, BY THE BUILDINGS THEY LIVE IN IT TAKES MONEY TO KEEP PROPERTY MAINTAINED AND IN GOOD SHAPE FOR CITIZENS WE NEED TO MAKE SHORT THE MONEY GETS USED TO SUPPORT QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING EVICTIONS ARE BAD FOR TENANTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT COULD BE DAMAGI FOR OUR CITIZENS WHO ASPIRE TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS. AS WE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE STABLE WE NEED UP FRONT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS A NONPROFIT DEVELOPER WE THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE PUBLIC FUNDING TO SUPPORT TENANTS AND LANDLORDS DURING THIS PROCESS WE ARE HELPING TENANTS WITH EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WE RECOGNIZE WE NEED TIME FOR TENANTS UNDER THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT WE HAVE VOLUNTEER LAWYER NETWORK FOLLOWED BY THE COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW. THANK YOU CHAIR DRAHEIM CHAIR HAUSMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M THE HOUSING PROGRAM MANAGER AND RESOURCE ATTORNEY AT VOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK THE LN WE ARE A SMALL MINNESOTA BASIS NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME MINNESOTANS WHO OTHERWISE CANNOT AFFORD A LAWYER WE DO THIS BY MATCHING OUR CLIENTS WITH PRIVATE BAR ATTORNEYS WERE WILLING TO PROVIDE THEIR LEGAL SERVICES FOR FREE. OUR HOUSING PROGRAM ALONG WITH OUR LEGAL AID PARTNERS STAFF LEGAL CLINICS AT EVERY EVICTION CALENDAR AND HENNEPIN RAMSEY AND ANOKA COUNTIES WE WORK WITH COURTHOUSE STAFF TO COURT MADE OUR CLINIC SERVICES ON-SITE AND INME QUALIFIED LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. MY PRIMARY CONCERN WITH THE END OF THE MORATORIUM IS WE GET FLOODED BY SO MANY CASES THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT EVERYONE NEEDS. NO ONE BENEFITS FROM A MESSY AND CHAOTIC PROCESS THAT WOULD BE CREATED IF TOO MANY EVICTION CASES ARE ALLOWED TO PROCEED AT THE SAME TIME AND WHILE THE EVICTION PROCESS IS RELATIVELY QUICK IN MINNESOTA IT'S STILL A PROCESS THAT TAKES TIME AND HE STEPS NEED TO PROCEED CAREFULLY APPROPRIATELY AND CORRECTLY. EVEN IF WE COULD MOVE A LARGE NUMBER OF CASES THROUGH ONE PART OF THE PROCESS THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS IN THE PROCESS FROM FILING A COMPLAINT IN COURT TO HAVING AN INITIAL APPEARANCE TO A POSSIBLE TRIAL TO A POSSIBLE FORCE REMOVAL BY THE SHERIFF AT THE ND OF THE CASE. EACH OF THE STEPS ONCE AGAIN TAKES TIME AND THAT'S A PROCESS THAT'S DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO DO THE WORK. I ASKED THE GROUP CAREFULLY THINK ABOUT PRE-EVICTION NOTICE WHICH COULD ALLOW PARTIES TO AVOID COURT IF POSSIBLE WHICH COULD ALSO ALLOW CASES TO MOVE FORWARD AND HELP SPREAD THOSE CASES OVER A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME I FURTHER URGE YOU TO GIVE DISCRETION TO THE COURTS THAT NEED TO SLOW THE EVICTION PROCESS AND NEED MORE TIME TO PROCESS CASES THAN WHAT IS STATUTORILY ALLOWED NOW I ALSO URGE YOU TO CAREFULLY THINK ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN MAKING SURE THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WHO NEEDS BEFORE ELECTIONS ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS THE COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW FOLLOWED BY MR. NEST EGG. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR I'M WITH THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LOT REPRESENTED LANDLORDS AND TENANTS FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS AND I WAS A MOM-AND-POP LANDLORD OFF-AND-ON OVER THE YEARS AS WELL AND RESPOND TO THE MANKATO LANDLORDS THERE ARE SEVERAL EXCEPTIONS TO THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THAT MIGHT APPLY TO THE FACTS THEY WERE DISCUSSING SO THEY SHOULD TALK TO AN ATTORNEY ABOUT THAT. I WILL DO A BRIEF SLIDESHOW I'M NOT SURE I'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHARE THIS OR NOT. IT'S NOT LETTING ME ON NOW I WILL TALK INSTEAD. THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER THERE BEEN STUDIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE SHOWN WHEN EVICTIONS WERE OPENED THERE WERE A LOT OF INFECTIONS AND DEATHS OVER THE SUMMER LAST YEAR OVER 4000 4,000 DEATHS IN TEXAS THE STUDY AUTHORS SAY ESTIMATE AROUND 700 700 LIVES WERE SAVED IN MINNESOTA LAST SUMMER WHEN YOU EXTRACT THAT OUT OVER THE MORE INFECTIOUS TIME OF LAST YEAR MY ESTIMATE LOOKING AT ALL THE MEDICAL MODELING DATA IS THE STATE SAVED ABOUT 2000 DEATHS 2000 DEATHS BY HAVING THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THEREABOUTS ACTING THOUSAND EVICTIONS A YEAR IN A NORMAL YEAR AND PERHAPS THAT'S HIS MANY THAT ARE ON HOLD IF YOU ADD NOR THE ECONOMY BUT LOOKING AT THE ECONOMY WE HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT DATA OF UNEMPLOYMENT THE CENSUS HAS ESTIMATED AROUND 194,000 UNEMPLOYED TENANTS NOW 70,000 NOT UP-TO-DATE WITH RENT AND WHAT WE RECOMMEND IS THE COURTS BE ALLOWED FLEXIBILITY IN SCHEDULING CASES THAT THERE BE PRE-EVICTION NOTICES AND RENT CASES AND REACH CASES IN PRE- FILING MEDIATION AND RENT CASES BE STAGGERED TO FLATTEN THE CURVE THAT RENT CASES SHOULD WAIT UNTIL RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE IN THE SHOULD BE STAGGERED WITH THE CASES THAT HAVE THE LONGEST THAT GO FIRST AND THEN GO AND MONTHLY INCREMENTS SO YOU FLATTEN THAT OVER ABOUT FOUR OR SIX MONTHS SIX MONTHS SO THE COURTS AREN'T OVERWHELMED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MR. NEST BIG IS NEXT FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER TESTIFIER IS GORDON AVAILABLE I SAW HIM EARLIER. THERE YOU ARE MR. NEST EGG WE CANNOT HEAR YOU. WE STILL CANNOT HEAR YOU. WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU SIR WE CANNOT HEAR YOU, WE WILL GO TO ALAN RATHKE I HOPE I AM SAYING THAT CORRECTLY. YES, MR. CHAIR CAN YOU HEAR AND SEE ME. I CAN HEAR YOU BUT I CANNOT SEE YOU. WHAT I WANT TO BE IS THE FACE OF EVICTION FOR MINNESOTA SO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA CAN SEE WHAT A TYPICAL RENTER IS FACING HERE I ALSO RECEIVED STATE INCOME HELP LAST YEAR RENTAL HELP LAST YEAR WHICH WAS A BREEZE I APPLIED FOR THE PRESENT ONE FROM COMMISSIONER ONE FROM COMMISSIONER HO THE DAY AFTER IT WAS OUT IT'S BEEN A MONTH I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING MY LANDLADY HASN'T HEARD ANYTHING, AND I HAVE A A BUNCH OF VIDEO ON THE ISSUES I AM FACED WITH THE CHALLENGING LANDLORD IN ALEXANDRIA THAT I WANT TO PUT A 28 MINUTE PROGRAM 28 MINUTE PROGRAM ON THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL SO ALL CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA CAN SEE WHAT WE ARE FACING ON SOUND POLICY BUT UNLESS THE CITIZENS CAN SEE IT THEN ABOUT $3 $3 MILLION A YEAR TO KEEP PUBLIC TELEVISION OUT THERE I WANT TO SEE THE 28 MINUTE VIDEO 28 MINUTE VIDEO IS THERE TO SHOW PEOPLE THE ISSUES THAT I FACE AND OTHER RENTERS FACE THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SEE THE COMMITTEE DO WE GET A UNIFORM STATEWIDE INSPECTION SERVICE FOLLOWING THE MANAGING PROGRAM SO IT COMES AUTOMATICALLY PROTECTION FOR RENTERS AND LANDLORDS LIKE THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS COMES AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THESE LANDLORDS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST A 10% INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY IN THE CASES WHERE I LIVE THAT'S $100,000 AND I WANTED TO SHOW THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA BETTER WAY TO INCREASE HOUSING AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT APPRAISALS AND MICE AND ALL THE ISSUES MR. CHAIR THAT WE ARE FACING BUT I NEED TO DO IT ON THE MINNOTA CHANNEL AND HAVE IT RUN A NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE BROADCAST BEFORE I THINK THE MINNESOTA STUDENTS AS WELL AS LEGISLATORS WOULD FIND IT FASCINATING I WANT THE SOLUTION ADDRESSED AND ADDRESSED AUTOMATICALLY LIKE THE SITUATION FOR BUILDING NEW HOMES OR REMODELING HOMES WHERE THE STATE BUILDING CODE AND LET'S GET A STATE. WE APPRECIATE THE TESTIMONY WE HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF WE ARE RUNNING LATE HERE THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO SHEILA MELTON. I SEE TWO REPRESENTATIVES HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES HAVE THEIR HANDS RAISED TO. CHAIR HAUSMAN TENUATE WE HAVE ONE TESTIFIER REMAINING. ONE TESTIFIER REMAINING. WHAT MINE WAS TO MAKE A CLARIFYING POINT FOR SEAN AND JEREMY THE TESTIFIERS A CLARIFYING POINT. SEAN OR JEREMY ARE YOU ON. JUST FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD I WOULD WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WE COULD QUICKLY PASS A WELL-DESIGNED FRAMWHICIS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO WE COULD HELP THEM BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE OUR HOUSE BILL ALLOWS EVICTIONS IN CASES WHERE A TENANT POSES A DANGER TO OTHERS OR ENGAGES IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SO THEY SHOULD WANT WELL-DESIGNED OFFRAMP TO PROVIDE THAT PROTECTION I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY PERHAPS DID NOT UNDERSTAND. YES, OUR SENATE BILL DOES THE SAME THING AND ACTUALLY THE REVISED EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWS THAT UNFORTUNATELY OUR COURT SYSTEM IS NOT RECOGNIZING THAT BUT WE WILL GO TO SHEILA MELTON WITH HEARTLAND REALTY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN THE MEETING TODAY ON SHORT NOTICE. I'M SHEILA MELTON I WORK FOR REALTY INVESTORS INC. FOR 36 YEARS WE OFFER AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CONVENTIONAL HOUSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE WORK THROUGH NINE NINE DIFFERENT STATES. OUR CORPORATE OFFICE IS IN MINNESOTA IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHAT I WANTED TO BRING TO THE TABLE I DON'T LIKE TO BRING COMPLAINTS TO THE TABLE BUT SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AS WELL I HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THROUGH MANY STATES ILLINOIS INDIANA OHIO, MINNESOTA CALIFORNIA OREGON AND VIRGINIA AND TEXAS. I HAVE BEEN IN ALL THE VARIOUS STATE RENTAL ASSISTANCE SOFTWARE ON THE PORTALS TO APPLY AS A LANDLORD AND ALSO HELP RESIDENTS APPLY AS WELL. I DO HAVE TO SAY I DID SEND AN EMAIL YESTERDAY AND I AM APPALLED D FRTRAT I WON'T RESTATE EVERYTHING ELSE EVERYONE A SET IS THE MOST FRUSTRATING SOFTWARE EVER SEEN I DON'T KNOW HOW THE MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN DISPERSED I'VE NO IDEA HOW PEOPLE ARE EVEN APPLYING BOTH TENANTS AND WHEN WE GET A LANDLORD PORTAL WE CAN GET INTO THE SYSTEM MY SOLUTION TO THIS WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS I KNOW THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OPENED THEIR PORTAL SYSTEM THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MAY MAY 17TH THAT WAS NINE DAYS AGO NINE DAYS AGO I HAVE APPLIED FOR 45 IN THE WAY THEY DID OF THE LANDLORDS GO IN FIRST THEY PUT IN THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE OUTSTANDING BALANCES THAT'S THE FIRST STEP GETTING A NOTICE OUT TO THE RESIDENCE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM THAT WERE GOING TO BE APPLYING ON THEIR BEHALF THE SECOND STEP IS AFTER I PUT THE RESIDENCE IN IT WAS A SIMPLE SENDING AN EMAIL THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY SEND AN EMAIL TO THE RESIDENCE IN TURN TO TELL THEM TO GO IN AND DO THEIR PORTION AND I DOWN LOAD THEIR LEASE I DOWNLOAD THEIR LEDGER I DON'T LOAD THE W9 THE ACH AUTHORIZATION IN NINE DAYS I HAVE OVER 42 42 APPLICATIONS THAT A BEEN JOINTLY COMPLETED IN ILLINOIS. IT MINNESOTA HAS BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE MARCH I HAVE RECEIVED THREE NOTIFICATIONS AND TWO OF TWO OF WHICH WHICH DON'T EVEN LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES SO THE RESIDENTS WERE APPLYING AND PUTTING THE WRONG APARTMENT COMMUNITY ON THEIR APPLICATION IT'S A DISASTER I HAVE 19 19 APPLICATIONS AND THEY'RE ONLY 14 BELONG TO OUR COMMUNITIES THE OTHER FIVE DO FIVE DO NOT. I'M REALLY QUESTIONING HOW COMMISSIONER HO WAS SAYING SHE PUT THIS MONEY OUT AND EVERYTHING WHEN I KNOW THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I WOULD URGE MINNESOTANS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR SYSTEMS TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROGRAM CONTACT OTHER STES A SEEOW THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING IN MINNESOTA I'M AFRAID YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE ALL YOUR FUNDING AND IT WILL BE GOING TO OTHER STATES LIKE ILLINOIS WHO HAD A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY WE WILL GO BACK TO MR. NEST EGG AND SEE IF WE CAN HEAR HIM GORDON, CAN YOU TALK. HE IS ON HIS HEADPHONES BUT I CANNOT HEAR HIM. I THINK HE MAY BE SEEING HE CANNOT HEAR US EITHER. I AM SORRY MR. NEST EGG WE CANNOT HEAR YOU I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR US WE ARE GOING TO GO TO BETH BAILEY AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. SEN. DRAHEIM MR. NEST BIG IN THE ZOOM INVITE YOU RECEIVED THERE IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE A PHONE CALL IN MAYBE I WOULD SUGGEST TO CALL IN. THANK YOU. THE LAST TWO TWO TESTIFIERS MEMBERS THEN WE WILL GO TO QUESTIONS I KNOW CHAIR HAUSMAN WILL BRING YOU UP AND SEN. DUCKWORTH HAS HIS HAND RAISED BUT WOULD YOU BEGIN YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU CHAIR DRAHEIM AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS I'M BETH BAILEY HERE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY MEDIATION MINNESOTA I'M ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ONE OF THE COMMUNITY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA. JUST THREE COMMENTS THREE COMMENTS OUT TRY TO BE AS QUICK AS I CAN WE BEEN MEDIATING LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES SINCE 1994 WE'VE 1994 WE'VE MEDIATED OVER 15,000 IN MY ORGANIZATION ALONE THE IS H LOSE LOSE IN THIS SPACE AND WIN-WIN IN THIS SPACE AND MEDIATION CAN OFTEN MAKE THE MEDIATION MINNESOTA BECAME A PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR TRYING TO PLACE MEDIATION SERVICES WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND FOUND GREAT SUCCESS WHEN THEY GOT LANDLORDS AND TENANTS WORKING TOGETHER ON THESE APPLICATIONS IT CREATED GREATER TRANSPARENCY IT CREATED FASTER APPLICATION PROCESSES AND BETTER OUTCOMES AND MUCH LESS STRESS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED WERE A PARTNER WITH THE MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCAGEN NOW AND GETTING HANDS-ON SENSE OF THE PAIN THAT'S OUT THERE WITH LANDLORDS AND OWNERS AND TENANTS THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN OUT THERE AND ONE THING I WOULD OBSERVE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN HOUSING COURT SINCE 1994 IS I 1994 IS I THINK YOU HAVE YOUR STUCK WITH THE IDEA THERE'S GOING TO BE A BACKLOG AND WHAT YOU HAVE IS A COMMITTEE IN DESIGNING THIS IS A CHOICE BE PAUSED IN THAT AREA WHEREO MONEY IS COMING IN TO MAKE LANDLORDS WHOLE AND TENANTS HOUSED OR DO YOU WANT THAT BACKLOG TO GET KICKED TO THE NEXT LEVEL WHICH IS THE COURTS? EVEN IF YOU LIFT THE MORATORIUM YOU'RE JUST GOING TO MOVE THAT BACKLOG TO THE COURTS AND FROM THE COURTS TO THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND ISSUING RITZ AND IT SEEMS TO ME GIVEN THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A GREAT SOLUTION DUE TO THE TREMENDOUS BACKLOG WE HAVE HERE THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE THE ONE THAT ONE THAT ALLOWS FOR LANDLORDS TO BE MADE WHOLE FINANCIALLY AND FOR TENANTS TO REMAIN HOUSED AND FIND A WAY TO DO THAT. I WILL YIELD TO KATIE ARNOLD MY COLLEAGUE FROM NORTHFIELD. THANK YOU BETH AND THANK YOU CHAIR DRAHEIM AND KATIE ARNOLD THE DIRECTOR OF RESTORATIVE AND MEDIATION PRACTICES I AM ALSO I WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUE WITH COMMUNITY MEDIATION MINNESOTA I LIVE IN NORTHFIELD WHICH WE ARE CONSIDERED OUTSTATE AND I GUESS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING THE OFFRAMP PROCESS OF THE MORATORIUM THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING MEDIATION SERVICES AND EVICTION DIVERSION. HERE IN RICE COUNTY WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED A SYSTEM WHERE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS CAN CONTACT US FOR DOING FREE EVICTION DIVERSION MEDIATIONS AND WERE GETTING SEVERAL SES ING AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COURTS BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THINGS. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT THESE KIND OF SERVICES ARE OUT WE HAVE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PURSUE THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS THANK YOU. THANK YOU WERE GOING TO TRY GORDON ONE MORE TIME GORDON CAN YOU HEAR US? TO THE STAFF I CANNOT HEAR HIM IS A THING WE HAVE TO DO FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE POINT OF VIEW. GORDON SHOULD BE SPEAKING HE IS ON THE 651 NUMBER THERE WE GO. W ARE GOOD GORDON, PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW. GO AHEAD. I REPRESENT A LITTLE DIFFERENT SEGMENT OF THE SOCIETY I HAVE A CLIENT WHO HAD TO TENANTS AND HAS TEN ACRES OF LAND AND IT INVOLVES A HORSE BOARDING OPERATION AND HORSE RIDING WE HAD AN EVICTION HEARING IN COURT BECAUSE 70% OF THE PROPERTY IS COMMERCIAL AND THEY TESTIFIED IN OPEN COURT THAT SHE MAKES $15,650 A MONTH OR $187,000 A YEAR HE HAS A ROOFING BUSINESS LAST YEAR HE MADE $178,000 HE HASN'T MADE A PAYMENT SINCE DECEMBER AND THE JUDGE WOULDN'T KICK THEM OUT BECAUSE OF THE MORATORIUM THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF INCOME THERE'S NO FLOOR ANYONE CAN THUMB THEIR NOSE AT THE SYSTEM AND SIT THERE DISLIKED THE FELLOW IN MANKATO TALKED ABOUT EXCEPT THESE PEOPLE HAVE THE MONEY THERE'S NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER FOR NOT MAKING THE RENT SO WE NEED TO BE CUT LOOSE FROM THE SYSTEM NOW THERE'S HARDLY ANYONE IN COURT SO THERE'S NO REASON WHERE THESE TENANTS HAVE ALL THAT MONEY THAT WE CAN'T KICK THEM OUT THAT SHOULD BE LIFTED IMMEDIATELY I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING FOR ASSISTANCE AND I GET THAT BUT WE ARE NOT IN THAT CATEGORY THERE'S NO REASON IN THE WORLD THAT WE CAN'T GET FREED FROM THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S MY POSITION JUST MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MONEY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT APPLYING LIKE THE FELLOW IN MANKATO SAID THERE JUST SQUATTING THERE ABUSING THE SYSTEM THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO HELP THEMSELVES THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO CERTAINLY THE ENANTS THAT HAVE THE MONEY THEY HAVEN'T SUFFERED ANY LOSS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC THEY'RE FULLY EMPLOYED AND FULLY WORKING NO REASON TO LET THEM NOT PAY THEIR RENT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE MEMBERS WE DID GET WRITTEN TESTIMONY FROM MINNESOTA MULTI-HOUSING ASSOCIATION I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO THE MEMBERS THERE WAS A WRITTEN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, PLEASE, LET ME KNOW. WE HAVE ONE ONE TESTIFIER WHO WANTED TO TOUCH ON THIS WHO ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ON THE BUDGET DISCUSSION WE ARE GOING TO GO TO CARRIE JOHNSON AND THEN WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS SHE HAS TWO TWO MINUTES KERRY, PLEASE, BEGIN YOUR TESTIMONY IF YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU CHAIR DRAHEIM AND CHAIR HAUSMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING WORKING GROUP ON CARRIE JOHNSON SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR AT NCC A POLICY COCHAIR FOR THE HOMES FOR ALL COALITION THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO TESTIFY TODAY. AS A WORKING GROUP CONSIDERS EVICTION MORATORIUM OFFRAMP I WANT TO REMIND YOU WHILE MOST THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC MAY SEEM OVER FOR MOST, THERE ARE MINNESOTANS WHO CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH THE ECONOMIC AND HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL EQUY ATS RE DASHBOARD MINNESOTA RENTERS ARE DELINQUENT MANY HAVE DEPLETED SAVINGS AND BORROW MONEY FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILIES ARE TAKEN ON HIGH INTEREST PAYDAY LOANS HAVING AN EVICTION ON ONCE RECORD AN CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE RENTERS LIFE AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT IMPACTS FUTURE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WHICH INTERNS CAN IMPACT JOB OPPORTUNITIES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND HEALTH OUTCOMES. ARE WE WILLING TO RISK POTENTIALLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTING 69,000 MINNESOTA RENTER HOUSEHOLDS FOR YEARS TO COME FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT DURING A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME PANDEMIC? I LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THINK THE SENATE AND HOUSE FOR INCLUDING A PROHIBITION ON EVICTIONS WITH PENDING ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS. WE ALSO REQUEST AN OFFRAMP INCLUDE A LONG ENOUGH TIMELINE TO MAKE RENTERS AND LANDLORDS WHOLE PROVIDE TEMPORARY NOTICE BEFORFILI AN EVICTION EXPUNGEMENT FOR THOSE RENTER HOUSEHOLDS IMPROPERLY EVICTED DURING THE MORATORIUM AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL LANDLORDS NOTIFY RESIDENTS WHEN THE EVICTION MORATORIUM ENDS AND DETAILS OF THE OFFRAMP. WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE ARP FUNDS USED TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL NAVIGATORS INCLUDING NAVIGATORS TO HELP LANDLORDS I WANT TO STRESS AGAIN THE DECISIONS MADE REGARDING THE OFFRAMP WILL POTENTIALLY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTA HOUSEHOLDS, PLEASE, DO NOT MAKE THE DECISION LIGHTLY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. MEMBERS I WILL GO TO CHAIR HAUSMAN FIRST AND THEN I WILL GO TO SEN. DUCKWORTH AND TAKE QUESTIONS. MDM. CHAIR DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING BEFORE WE GO TO MEMBERS CHAIR CAN YOU HEAR ME. I RAISE MY HAND EARLIER O GIVE A CLARIFICATION TO THE TESTIFIERS FROM MANKATO AND MR. MCDONOUGH WHO TESTIFIED FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS THAT THERE ARE TOOLS ALREADY THEY CAN USE BUT I THINK THERE PERHAPS NOT ON ANYMORE THAT WAS MY POINT. OKAY SEN. DUCKWORTH YOU HAVE BEEN PATIENT THANK YOU YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS. YES, MR. CHAIR. THEY ARE MORE SO TO PROVIDE INSIGHT TO WHAT FOLKS AVE SHARED I LISTENED AND TOOK SOME NOTES AND WOULD ADD SOME CLARITY TO THE CONVERSATION. I HEARD SOMEONE ASK US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF SOME LANGUAGE IN THE BILL ESPECIALLY THE SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL. THE REALITY IS FOLKS WOULD HAVE AN ENTIRE YEAR TO WORK THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS IF THERE IS FEAR OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR THIS ASSISTANCE WOULD SOMEHOW ALL OF A SUDDEN BEGINNING KICKED OUT OF THEIR PROPERTIES IS NOT THE CASE WHATSOEVER I THINK BOTH VERSIONS OF THESE BILLS PROVIDE GENEROUS TIME FOR PEOPLE TO WORK THROUGH THESE APPLICATION PROCESSES AND RECEIVE THE ASSISTANCE THEY ARE REQUESTING SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR. PART OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON THE SENATE SIDE IS TO FOCUS ON A FAIR AND REASONABLE OFFRAMP WE HAVEN'T FOCUSED ON REFORMING LANDLORD-TENANT LAW WHETHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY AND FRANKLY I THINK YOU COULD MAKE THE CASE IT'S NOT THE JOB OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE TO DO SO IT'S MORE SO THE JOB OF THE CIVIL LAW COMMITTEE TO BE LOOKING AT LANDLORD-TENANT LAW REFORM. SOME OF WHAT WAS SHARED IN SOME OF THE TESTIFIERS SAID SOME OF THESE ISSUES EXIST PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE AND I HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT WITH THE NOTION WERE NOT NECESSARILY ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE ITEMS THAT WERE IN PLACE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THE OFFRAMP ISSUE HAT'S A LIMITING OUR FOCUS ON THAT I THINK WILL HELP US BE PRODUCTIVE IN FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE OFFRAMP. AUTOMATIC EXPUNGEMENT WERE REFERENCED AND RIGHT NOW IN STATE STATUTE THE COURTS HAVE DISCRETIONARY EXPUNGEMENT AS A TOOL AT THEIR DISPOSAL SO THEY CAN DO THAT USE THEIR BEST DISCRETION IN THESE CASES IN THE COURTROOM TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT EXPUNGEMENT MAKES SENSE AND IS NECESSARY SO THAT EXISTS AS A PROTECTION FOR FOLKS SO PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THAT THERE'S A MECHANISM FOR THAT CURRENTLY IT'S IN STATE STATUTE. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE BOTH OF THOSE WHETHER THEY BE NOTICES OR EXPUNGEMENT ANYTHING THAT RELATES TO CONTRACT LAW ETC. MAY BE A BETTER DISCUSSION FOR COMMITTEES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OUR PURVIEW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ATTORNEYS TESTIFIED THAT'S GREAT WE TALK ABOUT THE COURT SYSTEMS THIS IS THE HOUSING COMMITTEE SO UNDERSTAND THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES MAY HELP US AND FOCUSING ON THE OFFRAMP AND THEN THAT FOCUS SHOULD BE HOW DO WE GET THESE PEOPLE ASSISTANCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE THE PROCESS FOR DOING THAT IS EXECUTED QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY THAT'S THE COMMON THEME IN ALL THE TESTIMONY HEARD TODAY WAS FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER OR MANAGER SOMEONE WHO'S A TENANT IS IT SO CONFUSING AND HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE AND GETTING IT THAT'S THE PROBLEM THEY COULD USE SOME ADDITIONAL FOCUS. THE PROPERTY MANAGER SAY THEY'RE ALREADY PROVIDING NOTICE AND INFORMATION FOR RENTERS AND TENANTS AND HOW TO DO THIS THERE HELPING THEM TO THAT I THINK IT'S IN BOTH OF THEIR BEST INTEREST TO DO SO WHETHER THEY ARE PROPERTY OWNER OR TENANT AUTHORITY HAPPENING THERE WORKING WITH FOLKS TO TRY TO GET HIM THE ASSISTANCE WOULD BE SILLY FOR THEM NOT TO DO THAT RATHER THAN COMPLETELY CHANGING THE RULES OF THE GAME AND COMPLETELY CHANGING TENANT LAW WHETHER PERMANENTLY OR TEMPORARILY AND CONFUSING PEOPLE EVEN MORE BUT STICK WITH WHAT'S BEEN THE LAW FOR YEARS AND HELP PEOPLE GUIDE EACH OTHER THROUGH IT AND GET THEM THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED IN A TIMELY MANNER. SOMEONE REFERENCED WHAT WOULD BE A MORAL FAILURE IN MY HOME OPINION THE MORAL FAILURE WOULD BE CALLING UP THIS OFFRAMP VER PREVIOUSLY INTRODUCED AND DEBATED POLICY ITEMS THAT AREN'T NEEDED TO GET THE JOB DONE TO HELP FOLKS AND PRIORITIZE GETTING FUNDS OUT THE DOOR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE LET SOLVE THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND LET'S HELP TENANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS WITH NOT ALL THIS EXTRA STUFF COMING INTO THE EQUATION THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HELP THE ISSUE AT HAND THAT'S ALL I HAVE MR. CHAIR THANK YOU. THANK YOU SEN. DUCKWORTH. REPRESENTATIVE AGBAJE. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR DRAHEIM AND CHAIR HAUSMAN I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE PUBLIC TESTIMONY A COUPLE OF POINTS I WANT TO REITERATE FROM A NUMBER OF TESTIFIERS WE'VE HEARD TODAY IS THE NECESSITY FOR AN ORDERLY AND CLEAR PROCESS FOR THIS EVICTION OFFRAMP ONE THAT'S CLEAR NOT ONLY TO LANDLORDS BUT ALSO TO TENANTS AND ALSO TO OUR COURT SYSTEM AND THE FACT THE COURT SYSTEM IS A KEY PLAYER IN THIS HOUSING ASPECT BECAUSE MANY OF THE REASONS WHY THE EVICTION MORS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE COULD SURVIVE THIS PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISIS SO AS WE ARE CONSIDERING HOW WE GO ABOUT WORKING ON THIS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF HAVE AN PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET THE RENT PAID IN THE LANDLORDS WILL RECEIVE THAT MONEY SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE AS COMMISSIONER HO ELOQUENTLY SAID EARLIER TODAY THEY KNOW THERE ARE BUGS IN THE SYSTEM BUT THEY ARE WORKING ON FIXING THOSE AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SHORT SUCH A HUGE SYSTEM DOING IT RIGHT THE FIRSTIME WAN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET THE MONEY THAT'S OWED TO THEM. THIS ALSO CREATES GREATER STABILITY IN OUR HOUSING ECOSYSTEM MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THEIR HOME. WE LSO A LOT OF THE THEMES OF THE TESTIMONY TODAY WAS THE MONEY IS A NECESSITY WHETHER FROM A LANDLORD PROPERTY MANAGER OR TENANT AN ATTORNEY WAS MONEY WAS A NECESSITY WE NEED TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE MONEY TO GET THROUGH SO I WANT TO REITERATE THAT TODAY AND ALSO AGAIN TO MAKE SURE WERE NOT OVERWHELMING OUR SYSTEM WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT NOTICE HEARD A LOT THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE DOING AND SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT I THINK THE VERSION THE HOUSE IS OFFERED DOES HAVE A NOTICE TIME FOR A MINUTE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE ACROSS ALL SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM KNOWS WHAT THE PROCESSES ARE FOR AN EVICTION AS THE MORATORIUM IS WINDING DOWN I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WERE NOT OVERWHELMING OUR SYSTEMS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR TENANTS ARE SUPPORTED DURING THIS TIME BECAUSE HOME SO VITAL SO CRUCIAL FOR PEOPLE TO SURVIVE THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO PROVIDED TESTIMONY I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LETTING US KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND THANK YOU. THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I'VE A QUESTION MATE FOR MISS MARVIN OR MISS LONELY IF THEY'RE STILL ON THE CALL. BOTH HAD MENTIONED THANK YOU FOR TESTIFYING MISS MARVIN I COULD HEAR THE FRUSTRATION IN YOUR VOICE AND ANXIETY ABOUT KNOWING WHAT'S COMING IN THE FUTURE AND DOING BEST BUY YOUR TENANTS. YOU MENTIONED NOTICES AND THAT SOMETHING PRETTY COMMON IF WE PASS AN EVICTION MORATORIUM OFFRAMP REGARDLESS OF THE LEGISLATION WHAT DO OU THINK WOULD BE A PRACTICE DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD SEND A LETTER THAT WOULD INCLUDE HERE'S HOW YOU GO TO RENT HELP MN AND IF YOU DON'T DO THAT YOU MAY BE EVICTED BECAUSE THAT IS HOW YOU MAY HAVE THAT SITUATION REGARDLESS OF LEGISLATION. CORRECT THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT QUESTION. WE HAVE HANDED OUT BOOKS TO EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD IN ALL 38 CITIES WE 38 CITIES WE ARE IN GOT FOUR FOUR PAGES OF EVERY SINGLE PLACE IN MINNESOTA YOU COULD GET MONEY WE RESEARCHED PUT A FULL-TIME PERSON IN OUR OFFICE IN THE LAST YEAR ALL THEY DO IS HELP PEOPLE FIND RENTAL ASSISTANCE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US I'M NOTNLY MPANY THAT HAD TO TAKE SOMEONE AND INCLUDED A FULL-TIME POSITION BECAUSE IT'S SO COMPLICATED IT REQUIRES THINGS FROM US WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY GOT NOT ONLY MULTIPLE HANDOUTS ONE IS ONE IS FOUR PAGES LONG EVERY TIME SOMETHING NEW COMES OUT WE LET THEM KNOW THROUGH EMAIL WE DELIVER NOTICES TO THEIR DOOR WE DELIVER NOTICES IN THE MAIL WE PUT NOTICES ON THE BULLETIN BOARDS I'M NOT EXAGGERATING WE HAVE TRIED TO TELL EVERYONE HOW TO GET HELP AND CALL US WE HAVE ONE FULL-TIME PERSON THAT'S ALL SHE DOES ALL DAYS TAKE THE CALLS AND EMAILS AND HELPS PEOPLE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE ANYONE IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU MISS MARVIN THIS IS WHY IT'S BEEN SO VALUABLE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN PUBLIC AND TO HEAR FROM LANDLORDS AND RENTERS AND TENANT ADVOCATES ALIKE. JUST A WINDOW FOR YOU MISS MARVIN AND OTHERS IN THE CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WE HAVE TRADED SOME OFFERS BACK AND FORTH ON THE EVICTION MORATORIUM OFFRAMP AND ONE OF ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE SENATE IS A REFUSAL TO CONSIDER ANY SORT OF NOTICE AND IT'S VALUABLE TO HEAR MEMBERS THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE DOING ALREADY AND CERTAINLY I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD BECOME A REDLINE OBSTACLE FOR THE OFFICE TO RECHARGE SHORT GOALS THANK YOU. JUST A FEW TESTIMONY AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMMON THEMES THAT EMERGED WE SHARE THE SAME GOALS WANT TO PREVENT EVICTION AND MAKE SURE THE LANDLORDS ARE WHOLE AND THE RENTERS HAVE THE ABILITY O MOVE FORWARD AND IT'S IMPORTANT DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO BE CLEAR THAT WE WANT A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION THE HOUSE HAS POSTED OUR OFFER TO THE SENATE WHICH IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE SENATE BILL THE HOUSE FOR THOSE FOLLOWED THIS WE HAVE AMENDED OUR BUILT IN HOPES OF GETTING A COMPROMISE SO WE'VE ENDORSED THE GIVEN UP HOUSE BUILT WE'VE ADOPTED THE SENATE PARAMETERS THERE'S DISCUSSION I BELIEVE FROM THE FOLKS FROM MANKATO ABOUT POLICE CALLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WERE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE SENATE THAT MATERIAL BREACH OF THE AGREEMENT SHOULD MOVE FORWARD THERE'S A COMMON POINT THAT WE SHOULD FIND A WAY TO HAVE THE FOLKS WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO BE EVICTED WE HAVE AGREED TO THE SENATE ON THAT POINT AS WELL IN TERMS OF THEIR STEPS DOWN TIMELINE AND IT'S JUST I WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR THOSE WATCHING FROM THE SENATE WE HEARD HIS PASS ARE BUILT OR WERE NOT GOING TO DO IT OFFRAMP OTHER THAN THE PIECE OF THEIR BUILT WITH THE FUTURE EVICTION MORATORIUM WHAT I HOPE IS ALL OF THE SHARED DIALOGUE FROM THIS HEARING WILL DRIVE US AS A HOUSE AND SENATE TO TAKE TWO GOOD BILLS WORK TOGETHER AND FIND A COMPROMISE BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT IS LEGISLATURE TO COMPROMISE AND RESOLVE THIS THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD STRIVE TO RESOLVE THE ANXIETY THAT FOLKS ARE FEELING WHETHER THERE A RENTER OR LANDLORD BECAUSE THERE'S A WIN-WIN OUT THERE AND THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT'S POSSLE IALL DES WOULD COME TO THE TABLE AND COMPROMISE THANKS MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE, SEN. DUCKWORTH DID LAST ONE FOR WE ONE FOR WE GO TO THE LAST THREE THREE TESTIFIERS WOULD BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY. MR. CHAIR I PROMISE I'LL BE BRIEF I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY IF WERE GOING TO GO DOWN THE ROAD OF PROVIDING SOME CONTEXT THAT I'M HAPPY TO DO SO AS WELL. THE PUBLIC MAY NOT BE AWARE THE SENATE BILL WAS A PRODUCT OF A BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE LED BY YOU AND SEN. DZIEDZIC AND HAVE THE PARTICIPATION OF A FEW OTHER MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES AND THAT BILL WAS ACCOMMODATION OF A GREAT BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO PUT MINNESOTANS FIRST AND TACKLE THIS OFFRAMP IN THAT BILL PASSED THE SENATE WITH A BIPARTISAN VOTE IT WAS A VETOPROOF MAJORITY COMPARE THAT TO THE BILL THAT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE WHICH PASSED PRICKLY ON PARTY LINES THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM BUT THAT'S THE CONTEXTUAL OBSERVATION AS TO WHERE BOTH OF THESE BILLS ARE COMING FROM. THE SENATE DID PULL OUT AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS BILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH A HOUSE THAT HAD TO DO WITH CHAPTER 12 LAW AND WHERE THINGS MAYBE STAND NOW WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A NEGOTIATED OFFRAMP AND FROM THE SENATE STANDPOINT WE HAVE TWO GLARING TWO GLARING ISSUES THAT ARE HURDLES NOW THAT ARE TOUGH TO OVERCOME THAT MAYBE SHOULDN'T BE ONE OF THOSE HURDLES IS EXPUNGEMENT AND THE COURTS ALREADY HAVE DISCRETIONARY EXPUNGEMENT AT THEIR DISPOSAL SO THAT CAN BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE. THE NEXT ONE IS NOTICE. ONE IS NOTICE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND MAYBE LANDLORDS ARE PROPERTY OWNERS OR PROPERTY MANAGERS WOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS, BUT WORKING WITH FOLKS AND GIVING RENTERS AND TENANTS NOTICE THAT ABILITY TO THERE'S AN OFFRAMP POTENTIALLY YOU COULD APPLY FOR SOME ASSISTANCE THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT THAN LEGALLY REQUIRING PROPERTY OWNER TO PROVIDE EVICTION NOTICE WHICH WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE TO THE LAW. AND BY THE WAY IF WE HAD PROPERTY OWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS OPERATING THAT WAY FOR YEARS THIS GETS CHANGED ON THEM AND JUST BECAUSE HER NOT AWARE OF THE CHANGE TO THE LAW THEY DON'T GIVE A PROPER EVICTION NOTICE EVICTIONS THEY WOULD POSSIBLYHE- BE GOING THROUGH COULD BE DECLARED UNLAWFUL THAT WOULD FURTHER COMPLICATE THE PROCESS AND LESS CERTAINTY TO THE PROCESS AT THAT POINT WE BEGIN TO PICK TENANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER ONE ANOTHER THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IT ALL WANT THEM WORKING TOGETHER FINDING A SOLUTION APPLYING GETTING THE SERVICE SSISTANCE THEY NEED A WAY FORWARD WE DON'T WANT TOD DABBLE IN ADDING ADDITIONAL POLICY AND CHANGING A LOT OF THIS WE WANT TO FOCUS ON A SUCCESSFUL OFFRAMP THAT PUTS PEOPLE FIRST IT GETS IN THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU SEN. DUCKWORTH, SEN. DZIEDZIC ANYTHING QUICKLY OTHERWISE I WILL HOLD OFF TILL THE END. I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE END. THANK YOU. I WILL GO OUT OF ORDER HERE IF THE MINNESOTA REALTORS ARE HERE FOR A QUICK THEY ARE STILL ON MR. EGER I AM PAUL EGER I'M VP OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WITH THE MINNESOTA REALTORS ASSOCIATION. WE HAD SUBMITTED WRITTEN TESTIMONY ON SPECIFIC ITEMS IN BOTH SENATE AND HOUSE BILLS PREVIOUSLY SO TODAY I WANTED TO SHARE SOME DATA FROM OUR LATEST MARKET REPORT AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING HOMEOWNERSHIP AND OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THIS IS THE WORKGROUP FINALIZING THE BUDGET FELT THE LACK OF HOUSING INVENTORY MAKES FINDING HOME DIFFICULT FOR INDIVIDUAL BUYERS AND ALSO PREVENTS A SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE HOUSING MARKET PARTICULARLY AT THE MOST AFFORDABLE PRICE POINTS. OUR MARKET DATA REPORT FOR APRIL WHICH IS OUR LATEST DATA SET SHOWS A ONE-MONTH SUPPLY OF INVENTORY THAT'S A 60% DROP FROM APRIL 2020 AND WELL SHORT OF THE 45 MONTHS INVENTORY 45 MONTHS INVENTORY THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE MARKET TO BE WELL-BALANCED BETWEEN BUYERS AND SELLERS. IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF HOMES AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN APRIL THERE WERE ONLY 8,519 THAT'S LESS THAN HALF THE HOMES AVAILABLE IN APRIL 2020 APRIL 2020 THE SIMPLE MARKET PRINCIPLES WHEN SUPPLIES NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET DEMAND PRICES INCREASE IN THE CURRENT HOUSING MARKET DATA CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES THIS PRINCIPLE THE STATEWIDE MEDIAN SALES PRICE OF A HOME WAS $305,000 IN APRIL COMPARED TO $275,000 ONE YEAR $1 YEAR AGO AS AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 11% IN APRIL 2019 THE MEDIAN SALES PRICES WAS $251,000 IN THE SEVEN COUNTY $7 COUNTY METRO AREA THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE IN APRIL WAS $340,000 AND WITH SUCH FIERCE COMPETITION FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF HOMES ON THE MARKET MULTIPLE OFFERS WERE COMMON AND SELLERS ON AVERAGE RECEIVED 102 $102 % OF THEIR ORIGINAL LIST PRICE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS BETWEEN OUR PROPERTY IS LISTED AND WHEN AN OFFER IS ACCEPTED ALSO DROPPED IT DROPPED TO $36 DAYS WHICH WAS A 25% REDUCTION COMPARED TO ONE $1 YEAR AGO. THE ACTUAL TIME ON THE MARKET VARIES GENETICALLY BY NEIGHBORHOOD AND PRICE POINT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR PROPERTY TO GO ON THE MARKET HAVE A HUGE DEMAND FOR SHOWINGS AND A1 AND THEN RECEIVE MULTIPLE OFFERS PERHAPS $10 OR $20 OR EVEN MORE THIS LACK OF HOUSING INVENTORY IS HOLDING THE MARKET BACK IMPOSING A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE TO GETTING MORE MINNESOTANS INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP IS ALSO PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE RENTAL MARKET AS RENTERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE READY TO PURCHASE A HOME ARE EITHER UNABLE TO FIND SOMETHING IN THEIR PRICE RANGE OR DECIDE ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE MARKET CONDITIONS CHANGE WHICH MEANS A RENTAL UNIT IS NOT BEING FREED FOR SOMEONE ELSEEAD . CHR THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY AND WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE HOMEOWNERSHIP IN YOUR FINAL BILL THANKS AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT WE HAVE NORTH COUNTRY COOPERATIVE FOLLOWED BY VICTORIA ARE YOU STILL ON? IF NOT KATHY IF YOU WOULD START. VICTORIA MAY STILL BE ON IF WERE FOLLOWING THE ORDER ON THE AGENDA AS YOU WERE DEVIATING FROM THAT I'M KATHY METZ DEALT I'M WITH PRG IN MINNEAPOLIS TODAY I'M JOINING YOU REPRESENTING THE 17 17 ORGANIZATIONS STATEWIDE THAT MAKE UP THE HOME OWNERSHIP MINNESOTA COALITION. I AM NOW SEEING ALLEN ROAD KEYS SCREEN THAT WAS CONFUSING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY. THIS YEAR MORE PEOPLE IN EVER ARE TALKING ABOUT ADDRESSING THE STATES DISMAL HOMEOWNERSHIP GAP IN FACT THE GAP TODAY ISN'T ANY SMALLER THAN IT WAS IN 1980 THE 1980 THE DISPARITY ISN'T A RESULT OF NOT HOME COALITION MEMBERS KNOW HOW TO CLOSE IT WE NEED TO BE DOING WHAT WERE DOING ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE CONSIDER THIS OVER THE LAST 10 TEN YEARS 77% OF PRG DEVELOPED HOMES WERE PURCHASED BY BIPOC HOUSEHOLD LAST YEAR WAS HUNDRED PERCENT THIS YEAR WE'VE TURNED THAT AT LEAST FULLY SIX FULLY SIX FULLY QUALIFIED BIPOC HOMEBUYERS IN EACH PURCHASED BY A BIPOC FAMILY WERE SAYING NO TO PEOPLE WILL DONE THE HARD WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BUILD WELL TO INCREASE THE CREDIT TO IMPROVE THEIR SAVINGS AND NOW THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING TO BUY WERE SAYING NO TO HISTORICALLY BLACK FAMILIES WOULD OFTEN BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES OWN A HOME AND I KNOW PRG IS NOT ALONE IN THE COALITION NUMBERS ON THIS WE KNOW WHAT WORKS WE NEED TO DO IT ON MUCH LARGER SCALE THE BUDGETS ARE SUPPOSED TO REFLECT VALUES AND NO TIME MORE THAN IN THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAS IMPORTANCE OF HOME ALL TYPE OF HOMES BEEN MORE CLEAR GIVEN THE CURRENT FISCAL OUTLOOK A LONG TIME 10 MILLION TARGET SEEMS 10 MILLION TARGET SEEMS FULLY INADEQUATE AND WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT OUR VALUES IN THE STATE WITH ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST HOMEOWNERSHIP GAPS THAT 96% OF OUR PRODUCTION INVESTMENT INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOES TO RENTAL AND JUST 4% GOES TO OWNERSHIP AND LESS THAN HALF OF THE 4% ACTUALLY GOES TO THE PRODUCTION OF NEW OWNERSHIP UNITS. BOTH NEW CONSTRUCTION AND THE REHAB OF VACANT HOMES IN THE MOST RECENT FUNDING AWARD 6 1/2 MILLION SIX 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS WAS AWARDED TO THE PRODUCTION OF 92 92 OWNERSHIP UNITS STATEWIDE THAT'S 92 ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE YOU KNOW IT'S BAD WHEN LITTLE PRG REPRESENTS 10% OF THE STATES ANNUAL PRODUCTION IT'S FOR THIS REASON THE $10 $10 MILLION IN ONE-TIME FUNDING SHOULD SUPPORT OWNERSHIP PRODUCTION WE CAN MOVE QUICKLY AND PRODUCE THE UNITS THAT ARE NEEDED. AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE THE INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP MAKES GOOD FISCAL SENSE WE HAVE 27,000 HOUSEHOLDS OCCUPYING ARE MOST NEEDED AND EXPENSIVE RENTAL UNITS TO PRODUCE THOSE AFFORDABLE LESS THAN 30% AMI MOVING A FRACTION OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS AT 29% OF THE COST OF BUILDING WE WILL HAVE AFFORDABLE UNITS AT THIS LEVEL WOULD SAVE THE STATE SIGNIFICANT MORE THAN POCKET CHANGE NOW'S THE TIME TO INVEST IN PROVEN STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION CHALLENGES IN GREATER MINNESOTA AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE RACIAL HOMEOWNERSHIP GAP AND IF WERE NOT GOING TO PUT REAL RESOURCES BEHIND NARROWING THE RACIAL HOMEOWNERSHIP GAP THEN WE NEED TO STOP SAYING THAT CLOSING IS A PRIORITY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS GLORIA. THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY I'M VICTORIA CLARK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT NORTH COUNTRY COOPERATIVE FOUNDATION WERE ALSO A MEMBER OF THE HOME COALITION AT MCF WE BELIEVE HOMEOWNERSHIP IS FOR EVERYONE AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A RADICAL IDEA ON THE FACE OF IT BUT IT TENDS TO BE WHEN YOU GET DOWN INTO IT. IN FACT ONE OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONGOING BLOCKS THAT WE FACE IN A WORK AT NCF TO ADVANCE COOPERATIVE AFFORDABLE COOPERATIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS IS BREAKING DOWN THE PERVASIVE MYTHS THAT PERSIST AROUND WHO QUALIFIES FOR HOME OWNERSHIP ALTHOUGH FOLKS DON'T COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY TO YOUR FACE EVERYWHERE I GO PERSIST THE NOTION THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP IS ONLY APPROPRIATE FOR SOME ACHIEVED SOME ARBITRARY LEVEL OF FINANCIAL SUCCESS AND NOT APPROPRIATE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MAYBE ARE PERHAPS A WAYS OFF FROM ACHIEVING FINANCIAL SECURITY AND THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP THIS NOTION OF WHO QUALIFIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP IS BECAUSE WHO QUALIFIES OR WHO IS APPROPRIATE OR A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP IS REFLECTED IN HOW OUR STATE ALLOCATES RESOURCES FOR HOUSING. AS MY HOME COALITION COLLEAGUE KATHY JUST MENTIONED 96% OF MINNESOTA'S HOUSING PRODUCTION BUDGET GOES TO RENTAL HOUSING JUST 4% GOES TO HOMEOWNERSHIP MONEY TALKS AND WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS HOMEOWNERSHIP IS ONLY FOR A FEW WE ARE REITERATING THIS PERVASIVE MYTH WITH OUR INVESTMENTS IF WE WANT TO SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT WE CAN START BY SAYING IT WITH OUR DOLLARS AND WE CAN START THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THERE'S NO BETTER TIME THAN THIS YEA WITT IS WHY NCF AND OR MEMBERS OF THE HOME COALITION ARE ASKING WE DEDICATE EVERY POSSIBLE RESOURCE THAT'S AVAILABLE AND ON THE TABLE TO ADVANCING THE PRESERVATION AND PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP HOUSING WE HAVE ENOUGH DEMAND AND NCF PORTFOLIO OF NEW MANUFACTURED HOME COOPERATIVE AND EXISTING BACKLOG OF INFRASTRUCTURE REHAB PROJECTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO USE THE $10 MILLION THAT'S ON THE TABLE TWICE OVER AND THAT'S JUST NCF THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE PRG AND MINNESOTA HABITAT IN THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCING AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIPCROS THET WAYS WE CAN ADVANCE BETTER ECONOMIC OUTCOMES FOR MINNESOTANS AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN THIS CATEGORY PARTICULARLY FOR NEIGHBORS OF COLOR IS BY INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP. I URGE THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE TO SHOW STRONGLY FOR AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP THIS SESSION THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. THANK YOU AND CARRIE DID YOU HAVE A FEW COMMENTS QUICKLY I KNOW YOU TESTIFIED EARLIER BUT YOU WILL BE THE LAST TESTIFIER I WANT TO THANK ALL THE TESTIFIERS AND WILL GO TO CHAIR HAUSMAN. THANKS CHAIR DRAHEIM I'M CARRIE JOHNSON I'M A SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR AT MCC IN TESTIFYING TODAY IS POLICY COCHAIR FOR HOMES FOR ALL COALITION. THERE ARE TWO TWO THINGS I HOPE WE CAN ALL AGREE ON ONE THAT MINNESOTA WAS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS PRIOR TO THE COVID PANDEMIC AND DURING THE PAST YEAR THE PANDEMIC IS ONLY INCREASED HOUSING UNCERTAINTY FOR THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTA HOUSEHOLDS POLICY AND BUDGET DECISIONS SHOULD BE MADE WITH THOSE TWO TRUTHS IN MIND. LAST WEEK HOMES FOR ALL SAID THE FOR THE $10,000,001 TIME BUDGET TARGET PUT TOGETHER BY A NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COALITION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM FROM CREATING A SHORTER PROVIDER TAX FORCE TO HOMEOWNERSHIP INVESTMENTS ADDITIONALLY WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS IN THE FINAL TAX BILL ACTUALLY SENT OUT AN ACTION ALERT TO MEMBERS TODAY BECAUSE IF WE DO NOT MAKE TRUE PROGRESS ON THE HOUSING CRISIS WITHOUT INCREASING NEW INVESTMENTS DIRECTED TO SUPPORT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTINUUM. HOMES FOR APPRECIATE THE $100 $100 MILLION ALLOCATION OF HOUSING INTO STRUCTURE BONDS INCLUDED IN THE GLOBAL AGREEMENT HOMES FOR ALL OPPOSES ANY SPECIFIC CARVEOUT AS PROPOSED IN THE PAST; HOWEVER, WE DO SUPPORT ELIGIBLE USES THE COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS ENSURES PROJECTS THAT ARE READY TO GET FUNDING ALONG WITH GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTIONS HOMES ROLE CONTINUES TO HEAR FROM ON THE GROUND COMMITTEE ORGAZATIONSM FOR CHANGE THE LACK OF HOUSING UNITS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE AT 30% AMI AND BELOW WITHOUT PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE TO RISING HOMELESS RATES FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS HOMES ROSSMAN ADVOCATING FOR THE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY USED FOR HIV'S MINNESOTA'S NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A STATE FUNDING TOOL TO SERVE THIS TYPE OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE ALSO SUPPORT ADDING ACQUISITION AND PRESERVATION OF NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT HOPE THE SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL ARP FUNDS CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT THIS CRITICAL NEED AS WELL AS OTHER DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AS OUTLINED IN THE TREASURY INTER IDANCE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO REACH A DECISION ON FUNDING AND POLICY MEASURES. THANK YOU CHAIR HAUSMAN. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND SEN. DRAHEIM WE DON'T KNOW ARE PROTOCOLS YET. I WANTED TO UNDERSCORE ONE OF THE POINTS CARRIE JOHNSON JUST MADE. WE GOT A SMALL TARGET AND CULTURE COMMITTEE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE GOT THE SMALLEST TARGETS WE GOT $10 MILLION AND THAT NEEDS TO GO OVER EVERYTHING THERE IS ANOTHER COMMITTEE THAT HAS A COUPLE OF BILLS THEY ARE CONSIDERING THAT'S THE TAX COMMITTEE AND A NUMBER OF US FROM THE HOUSE HAVE MET WITH THE HOUSE CONFEREES TO TALK ABOUT THAT ON THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PIECE WHICH I WILL SAY EVERYONE AGREES OUR GOAL IS HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR AS MANY AS POSSIBLE WHO WANTED. THE TAX BILL HAS SOME TOOLS THAT PROVIDE FAR MORE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP WITH THAT OUR LITTLE TARGET DOES WE HEAR FROM MHFA THAT MANY WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE MORTGAGE ARE NEVER ABLE TO GET INTO THE HOMEOWNERSHIP TRACK BECAUSE THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER A DOWN PAYMENT THERE'S ALL SORTS OF CHALLENGES THERE WE TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT MARKET RATE OUR TARGET THE SMALL $10L OF $10 MILLION TARGET OF THE BASE IF ALMOST ALL THE GHOST ONE ONE CHALLENGE THEN WE IGNORE ALL OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEFORE US AS WELL AND I WOULD MAKE THAT POINT IN LIGHT OF THE LAST COUPLE OF TESTIFIERS. THE TAX BILL IS WERE STILL LEFT SOME HOPE FOR SOME MORE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN HOMEOWNERSHIP. THANK YOU CHAIR HAUSMAN AND SO EVERYONE IS CLEAR THE TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS BUDGET FOR THE AGENCY IS $1.6 BILLION FOR ONE YEAR ONE YEAR AND OUR GENERAL FUND FUNDING IS LITTLE OVER $150 $150 MILLION PLUS THE $10 $10 MILLION A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF IT AND WE ALSO DID HAVE $100 $100 MILLION IN HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS INCLUDING THIS HERE THE $10 MILLION 100 MANY IN DOLLARS PLUS THE ONE $100 15 MILLION BASE FUNDING 15 MILLION BASE FUNDING AND ALL THE OTHER FUNDING COMING IN FOR THAT AGENCY WE DO HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES AND WE NEED TO USE THEM WISELY. SEN. DZIEDZIC. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR I WANT TO THANK YOU AND CHAIR HAUSMAN FOR HAVING THIS THINK IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THEY'RE FACING IN REGARD TO THE PANDEMIC AND THE MORATORIUM OFFRAMP I WANT TO CLARIFY AGAIN THE SENATE BILL DID PASS WITH DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT BUT WE DID SET THE TIME WHERE WE HAVE THE CONCERNS I KNOW THERE'S BEEN MOVEMENT ON THE CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 12 ISSUE AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT EVERYONE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY AND WHEN WE DID THE TASK FORCE WORKED ON WE AGREED TO PART OF IT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND MOVE IT FORWARD AND WE KNEW WE HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE HOUSE. I'M GOING TO NOT GET INTO THE WEEDS BUT SAY TODAY WAS HELPFUL I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE TO CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND HAVE AN HONEST AND VERY BLUNT DISCUSSION ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING PAST SO WE HELP LANDLORDS AND TENANTS BECAUSE AS WE HEARD TODAY THAT FACING A LOT OF ISSUES I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE TO GET THIS RESOLVED THANK YOU. THANK YOU SEN. DZIEDZIC. I KNOW WE ARE ALL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT HOUSING AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING I'M GLAD WERE HAVING A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THIS. WE DO HAVE A TIMELINE TO KEEP WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MORE OR LESS IN ABOUT 49 HOURS THE OFFER FROM THE HOUSE EXPECT- ANYTIME SOON CHAIR HAUSMAN. MR. CHAIR I THOUGHT WE WERE ALREADY DO) STANDING THE SENATE WASN'T POSTING THERE'S AS PART OF THE AGENDA TODAY I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST INUTE WE WERE ASSUMING BOTH THE BUDGET OFFERS WOULD BE POSTED WE HAD HOURS READY BUT WE WERE A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A SENATE BUDGET POSTED. WE SHARED HOURS AT HER LAST MEETING I ASSUMED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE YOURS AT THIS MEETING. TO THE STAFF. I WAS THINKING THEY HAD COMMUNICATED TODAY AND AS YOU MAY KNOW OUR FIRST OFFER WAS THE HOMES FOR ALL AGENDA WE FELT THEY ARE OUR PARTNERS AND THEY REPRESE THOANDSF MINNESOTA CITIZENS SO WE RESPECTED THERE WORK WITH THE FIRST OFFER AND HER SECOND OFFER AGAIN WE WANTED TO MOVE TOWARD THE SENATE ON THE HOMEOWNERSHIP ITEM WE CUT A FEW ITEMS AND PUT MORE INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP BUT IT CERTAINLY AVAILABLE IN PUBLICLY POSTED AND SEN. ALL OF YOU. IF YOU COULD GET IT TO US SO WE CAN LOOK AT OVER AS I SAID WE HAVE MORE OR LESS 48 HOURS 48 HOURS TO GET THIS DONE, SO I THINK WE NEED TO GET GOING ON IT IF SOMEONE COULD SEND IT OUT TO THE WORKING GROUP THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. I THINK WE ARE OVER OUR TIME TODAY UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE PRESSING CHAIR HAUSMAN I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY KNOW YOU HAD ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AT 2 O'CLOCK 2 O'CLOCK ANOTHER MEETING YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT AND I HAVE ANOTHER MEETING COMING UP. I WOULD LIKE TO WRAP UP IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYONE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING WE WILL GET AN OFFER IMMEDIATELY FROM THE HOUSE AND WE WILL TRY TO GET YOU A COUNTER OFFER I WOULD HOPE BY THE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING IF NOT TONIGHT YET I THINK WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE PACE WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE DEADLINE IN MY OPINION, SO WITH THAT I THINK WE ARE GOOD TO GO AND WE SHOULD ADJOURN IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU CHAIR HAUSMAN. THANKS EVERYONE I APPRECIATE ALL T TESFIER AND THE MEMBERS STICKING WITH US AND THE COMMISSIONER THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR