UPDATED: People With Disabilities Got Help From Legislature
Housing for Minnesotans with disabilities has long been a pressing need. Demand for accessible housing exceeds supply. The Minnesota Housing Partnership cites a shortage of approximately 97,500 homes that are both affordable and available for extremely low-income renters. That demographic includes many disabled people. One longstanding goal of the disability rights movement is for disabled people to fully participate in their communities, through independent and assisted living options.
While brick-and mortar-needs are top of mind, two other issues tied to disability-focused housing are staffing and support services. Through state programs, direct support professionals keep many disabled Minnesotans in their homes and communities. In some cases, service providers use Medicaid to administer rent payments as well as services needed for daily living.
The Minnesota legislature came through this year, not only with accessible housing funds but also with a key step forward for disability rights in general.
The housing finance and policy bill pushed through this session will provide $165 million for housing. It is expected to result in more than 2,000 additional homes. The bill passed 105-28 by the House and 42-25 by the Senate.
The passage was celebrated by housing groups and disability policy advocates. It focuses on a wide range of housing including workforce housing, housing to transition people out of homelessness, and supportive housing. The $4 million for supportive housing is a boon for people with disabilities.
A related win are amendments to the Minnesota Human Rights Act. This is intended to implement a reasonable process requirement for accommodating Minnesotans with disabilities in areas like housing, public services, education, and other public accommodations.
Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL-Rochester)
House author Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL–Rochester) released the following statement upon passage: “Communities with disabilities are being harmed by oppressive policies from the federal government, and this bill is something those neighbors are begging for — a glimmer of support in an otherwise terrible year. I’m incredibly proud of all of the advocates who poured their hearts out, shared their experiences, and spent countless hours working to get this bill into law. It’s headed to the governor’s desk because of them.”
The Need in Minnesota
For years, a statewide staffing shortage has been an issue. What further complicates housing itself are the ongoing investigations of fraud and the termination or pauses of an array of services meant to keep Minnesotans with physical and cognitive disabilities in their homes.
Investigations have found that some providers pocketed Medicaid funds earmarked for rent as well as services needed for daily living. In-depth reporting by Twin Cities journalists revealed situations where people care teams and rent payments simply vanished. High levels of service were claimed and billed for, without being delivered. Care provider companies were found to have abandoned their offices. That has led to evictions in many cases.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services had to halt two key programs, Housing Stabilization Services and Integrated Community Supports programs. A freeze on new provider enrollments in 13 Medicaid service categories was announced in January.
Some disabled Minnesotans have lost their homes, their caregivers, or both. They are forced into group homes or institutional settings, or have faced homelessness.
Earlier this year the Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD) hosted “Let’s Talk About Disability Services in Minnesota.” The statewide virtual forum focused on recent disruptions to disability services. More than 700 Minnesotans registered for the event, a record for participation in a state council event.
One repeated message at the forum is that state officials should not put crucial services on pause while investigations go on. Nor should programs be ended or paused without considering the human toll.
The forum featured live polling. Poll results shared by MCD indicate that 48 percent reported concern about services being reduced or disrupted, and 31 percent reported uncertainty about what comes next. Feelings of being overwhelmed and afraid were reported by 22 percent of those taking the poll.
Quinn Nystrom
Quinn Nystrom, a disability advocate and author, moderated the forum. She emphasized that the consequences of recent fraud investigations are felt in every aspect of peoples’ lives, including their homes.
Some people shared stories of how their housing has been affected. Some spoke about how they had lost needed waiver services and supports. Waivers are Minnesota Medicaid programs that provides various services to people with disabilities who require the level of care provided in a nursing facility, or who need other supports.
Waivers can pay for caregivers and other services. But too many people had their services suspended in the wake of fraud investigations.
How the Legislature Found the Money for Housing
The agreement uses interest earnings and reallocates unspent funds previously set aside for the Tyler Settlement to fund housing programs, to service debt on $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds, and to provide an additional $40 million for Family Homeless Prevention Assistance Program.
It also will appropriate $25 million from interest earnings at Minnesota Housing for other programs including $14.3 million for workforce housing in Greater Minnesota, $150,000 for a homeownership education program, and $150,000 for the Minnesota Nice HomeShare pilot program in St. Louis County that helps older adults be part of a collaborative living situation.
The agreement will provide $4 million for supportive housing programs, $4 million for manufactured home infrastructure grants and $425,000 for statewide tenant education and hotline services.
Jane McClure (she/her) recently stepped down as editor of Access Press, a statewide newspaper for Minnesotans with disabilities.
For 2025 coverage, Minnesota Women’s Press earned a community leadership award, three photography awards, and four editorial awards, including for coverage of social issues and for our Spring 2025 “Know Your Rights” special section supported by Unidos MN. Our publisher was named Journalist of the Year by Violence Free Minnesota for gender-based violence coverage.
