Local Priorities Assisting Our Most Vulnerable
by Senator Karin Housley

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping people. Whether it’s advocating for those who don’t have a voice at the Capitol, creating legislation to address local priorities, or helping people navigate the legislative system, there’s always something to do and someone to help. This year I’ve authored a few bills that I want to highlight, because they truly were put together based on feedback from local families, and these bills are meant to address the needs of our most vulnerable. These are some of my favorite bills to work on, because not only do they integrate ideas from people all across the area, but also because it’s so important we take care of our elders and veterans.

The first bill I want to highlight has truly been a bipartisan effort in the works for years,
and that is a bill that funds the completion of the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial site in
Lakeside Memorial Park. The Forest Lake Area Veterans Memorial Committee has
been hard at work on this project for years, and this year I piggybacked on a bill that we
originally introduced in 2023. The bill simply funds the completion of the Veterans Memorial, ensuring our veterans and their families have a park to visit that holds them and their service in high esteem. This project is about honoring those who have given so much to our country, state, and communities, and I’m so proud of the work we’ve gotten done
together so far. I will continue to champion this park as a small honor to our local veterans.

Another veteran-specific issue is funding for the veterans campground at Big Marine
Lake. Many local veterans have reached out discussing the importance of this camp, and what it means to have it so close to home. It’s been a wonderful source of peace and family fun for our veterans since it opened in 1926, and recent improvements have made the park even better and more accessible. As a testament to its quality, the park sees over 35,000
visitors per year. Not only is the camp’s history storied, but it’s also such a special spot
for local veterans and their families. It’s a beautiful place that the community is already
so proud of, and we want to ensure that it continues to grow and be accessible to
veterans for years to come.

I’ve also introduced a number of bills that support our seniors, but this year, I’m very excited about a new pilot project known as the Minnesota Nice HomeShare pilot. This program that would allow seniors to rent out a spare room in their homes and would help many get that much-needed social interaction that keeps the mind active and engaged. With costs rising throughout the state, this would also give seniors a unique way to afford rising property and utility costs. This program would be in partnership with the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging and AARP, and it would be run through a platform that does background and security checks to make sure our seniors are safe in the process.

Sometimes our most vulnerable feel left behind, and these bills are about helping them and giving them a voice on issues they care about. These bills are just a handful of some of the local projects and priorities I’m working on, but I look forward to continuing to advocate for these projects and people long into the future.

Originally published in the Forest Lake Times