Friends and neighbors,
I have heard from many of you regarding confusion over rental assistance for those who may have become behind on rent over the course of the pandemic as well as assistance for owners of rental properties where tenants are falling behind. With federal funding, there is already a resource available for renters.
For renters across the state who have fallen behind on rent and utility bills at their current residence, Rent Help MN is a program to help catch up. This is a tenant-centered program, requiring individual renters to do the application work. RentHelpMN is run by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and while the program has been around for a few months, money is getting sent out rather slowly so apply as soon as you can.
In the recent week, I have reached out to Sherburne County urging the county to join in with a new program for rental property owners in several Twin Cities counties (Dakota, Hennepin, and Ramsey) to help them recover some of the lost revenue from late or non-paying tenants. The Zero Balance Program allows property owners to receive payment for unpaid rent, utilities, fees, and three months of future rent. The landlords apply on behalf of the tenants but there are several stipulations to be eligible for this assistance. It is my hope that Sherburne County will see the speedy success of this program in the neighboring counties and agree to join before our communities are hurt even more.
Over the weekend, I was grateful to join my Big Lake Auxiliary members along with members of the Legion to remember the incredibly brave fallen heroes of our communities. Whether rain or shine, this incredible group of people show up every year and do remarkable work! Thank you!!
As the rest of the budget agreement comes together, know that I remain committed to fighting for your needs at the Capitol in any way I can. I encourage you to reach out to my office with any questions, comments, or concerns. My email is Sen.Mary.Kiffmeyer@Senate.MN or you can call me at 651-296-5565.
Sincerely,