EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Patricia Gustafson
Executive Director, Minnesota NAHRO
Spring of the year brings refreshed hope, so too, numerous housing
organizations together sharing their message and demonstrating the
critical needs to address affordable housing and homelessness in
Minnesota has brought some unity and strength.
With all the advocacy efforts to preserve and advance affordable
housing, we anticipate positive results at the Capitol with our
Legislators to understand the importance of affordable housing to
the people of need and the positive economic impacts to communities.
We have received much support from numerous legislators
acknowledging the priority of affordable housing in Minnesota.
(Housing Authority Insurance Group has sponsored a study reflecting
the economic impact of public housing in this nation that can be
viewed on their Web site at
www.housingcenter.com)
Our Minnesota NAHRO Legislative Committee has had weekly conference
calls and followed up with the organizations’ Day at the Capitol
Breakfast and Briefing at the Kelly Inn in St. Paul. Several members
arranged meetings with their legislators to discuss local impacts
and needs of proposed legislation.
Minnesota NAHRO has partnered with several housing organizations to
share a common message for more resources for affordable housing and
to address homelessness. As the committees are setting their
appropriation limits, more education and advocacy remains important.
This is an opportunity to contact your representative or to get to
know them if you currently are not familiar with them. Watch for our
weekly electronic legislative update from Kevin Walli, our policy
analyst.
I just visited Washington D.C. for the National NAHRO Legislative
Conference. Together with several Minnesota delegates, we sought the
most current resource information. We also shared Minnesota housing
and community development issues and concerns as identified by
Minnesota NAHRO, with our Congressional Leaders. Further information
can be seen on our website at www.mnnahro.org
Our meeting also provided a glimpse of hope. National NAHRO kicked
off their “Housing America 2007” event March 21 at the National
Press Conference which I attended. For more information and to get
involved, a tool kit can be accessed on their Web site at
www.nahro.org.Collectively we
can all make a difference! |