Minnesota housing organizations from across the state, including Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, are celebrating legislation by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), top Democrat on the Senate Housing Subcommittee, advancing to the Senate floor. Smith’s bills were included in the first comprehensive, national housing reform legislative package in over a decade, dubbed the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, which passed the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously (24-0).
“The lack of safe, decent, affordable housing in this country is a choice that we’re making, but with this new legislative package, we’re choosing a different path. For the first time in over a decade, this committee is taking bipartisan action to cut red tape, boost the supply of housing, lower housing costs, and improve how we tackle homelessness in ways that best work for individual communities,” said Senator Smith. “The biggest share of the average Minnesotan’s monthly budget is their rent or their mortgage. Taking action on the housing crisis is one of the best ways we can make life more affordable and better for families, because if you don’t have a safe, decent, affordable place to live, nothing else in your life works.”
Smith’s legislation included:
- Rural Housing Service Reform Act, which would preserve affordable homes in small towns and rural communities by updating the Rural Housing Service and its programs for the first time in decades.
- Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act, which would cut red tape and support local solutions for addressing homelessness.
“This legislation is a critical step forward in addressing Minnesota’s housing shortage, especially in rural communities where the needs are both unique and urgent. We’re especially encouraged by the focus on expanding access to rural homeownership, preserving affordable rural rental housing, and strengthening support for manufactured housing — all essential to providing affordable, stable homes across the state. Senator Smith’s commitment to a broad range of housing solutions and her bipartisan leadership are helping ensure every Minnesotan has a fair shot at a safe place to call home,” said Andrea Brennan, CEO & President of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund.
“We all need a safe, stable place to call home. The ROAD to Housing Act of 2025 brings together real, workable solutions that will help more families put down roots and thrive. From making it easier to build high-quality homes using modern methods like modular construction, to expanding access to small-dollar mortgages and homeownership opportunities, this legislation helps create the homes Minnesota needs,” said Anne Mavity, Executive Director of the Minnesota Housing Partnership. “We’re especially grateful for Senator Smith’s leadership on pieces of this package that reflect what Minnesotans have been calling for: practical tools to increase housing options and reduce red tape. This bill is a step toward the future we all deserve — one where every family, in every community, can find and afford a home.”
Unbuilt Potential: Greater Minnesota’s Housing Crisis