Minnesota invested billions in housing — but much of that investment is concentrated at the very bottom of the income scale or at specific entry points like first-time homeownership.
Those programs matter. But they leave out a growing group:
Middle-income renters
Cost-burdened households earning too much to qualify for aid
Families whose wages haven’t kept pace with rent increases
In District 46B, many households aren’t in crisis — they’re just constantly on the edge.
Most housing assistance is built around gross income thresholds that don’t reflect:
High taxes
Healthcare premiums and deductibles
Student loans
Retirement contributions
As a result, families who appear “too well off” on paper are actually struggling month to month.
My Housing Approach
Housing policy must reflect real take-home pay, not outdated income assumptions.
That means shifting from one-size-fits-all programs to targeted solutions that stabilize housing for people who are working, paying taxes, and raising families — but still getting squeezed.
Expand housing assistance eligibility above the poverty line so cost-burdened households aren’t excluded
Middle-income rental stabilization, including targeted support and incentives to keep rents affordable
Pair housing aid with wage reality, indexing assistance so it doesn’t assume incomes grow while wages stay flat
Housing affordability isn’t just a low-income issue. It’s a working-family issue.