A thoughtful path for housing stability in St. Paul
In St Paul voters made it clear tenant protections and housing affordability are priorities that reflect the city s deeply held values As a resident of the Hamline-Midway neighborhood and a leader of region impact at the Saint Paul Minnesota Foundation I share those values and believe we now have an opportunity to move them forward in a way that s thoughtful inclusive and responsive to real-world necessities The Saint Paul Minnesota Foundation supports Ordinance - which amends the rent stabilization strategy and Ordinance - which strengthens tenant protections At both a personal and organizational level I see these proposed changes as a both and approach one that reflects our society s desire to protect renters and ensure St Paul remains a city where new housing can be built and sustained Our organization works alongside district partners across the East Metro to address the root causes of inequity and improve quality of life One way we stay grounded in society experience is through our East Metro Pulse survey a biannual assessment of regional well-being The statistics speaks clearly residents are consistently concerned with getting and keeping a house they can afford But beyond affordability the survey also highlights a critical difference in how renters and homeowners experience neighborhood While numerous homeowners describe their neighborhood as a place of belonging renters more often say it feels like just a place to live That sense of disconnect matters Because belonging is more than sentiment it s the foundation for civic participation economic mobility and neighborhood vitality When people feel rooted they are more likely to invest in their communities and in their own future I m heartened to see City Council members leaning into the nuance of this issue and showing a willingness to balance group necessities with long-term sustainability It s clear they ve been listening to renters to housing providers to advocates and to residents who want to see St Paul grow in strategies that are inclusive and resilient Alfonso Wenker This is how change should happen with care collaboration and a focus on shared outcomes We ve seen again and again that St Paul is a place where people come together to solve hard problems Housing is no exception With the right mix of guidelines funding and political will we can grow the options for stable housing St Paulites can afford and protect renters and in doing so we can build a city where everyone regardless of income or background feels they belong On behalf of myself and the Saint Paul Minnesota Foundation I commend the City Council for taking this both and approach and urge continued action that puts area values at the center of decision-making Let s stay engaged in the work of building a St Paul where all people renters homeowners landlords and future residents can find stability and belonging Alfonso Wenker is the senior vice president of area impact at the Saint Paul Minnesota Foundation The post A thoughtful path for housing stability in St Paul appeared first on MinnPost
