Minnesota continues to face housing challenges across the housing spectrum, from a shortage of homes and rising construction costs to rental affordability, workforce housing, homelessness, and the need for permanent supportive housing.
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Family Housing Fund, and Housing First Minnesota co-hosted a forum with gubernatorial candidates Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Demuth at the State Fair this week. The candidates discussed their housing priorities in separate, back-to-back interviews with KARE 11’s Danny Spewak. The event was unique in focusing exclusively on housing and was livestreamed by KARE 11 – giving Minnesotans the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about their vision for addressing our state’s housing needs.
Both interviews began by asking the candidates about their own housing story – how their approach is informed by their early housing experiences and how the homes they have lived in shaped them going forward. Senator Klobuchar described her childhood home, built by her parents with support from a G.I. loan. House Speaker Demuth described moving multiple times while growing up as her family navigated options in the rental market. Their answers remind us of what home really means – the critical foundation for success for each of us.
Watch the interviews via KARE 11 here.
Photo credit: Family Housing Fund
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