Take action today to protect renters by telling St. Paul City Council members to defend SAFE Housing!
Last year, the Housing Equity Now St Paul (HENS) coalition mobilized community members across St. Paul to ensure the passage of a strong tenant protections’ ordinance that will impact thousands of renter families.
As expected, landlords are trying to intimidate city leaders with a baseless lawsuit — and they’re falling for it. The city council is discussing repealing the entire ordinance with no plan for an immediate replacement policy to protect renters who face discrimination and exploitation every day.
We are a majority-renter city and it’s time our city leaders fight for tenants.
Take action by:
Telling your city councilmember to defend the SAFE Housing ordinance in court
Adding your voice to the official record for the public hearing on June 9, by going here and clicking the "Add New Comment" link on the left side and saying you're AGAINST the repeal of the SAFE Housing ordinance
Here's why:
The City did its homework: City staff conducted hundreds of hours of community engagement with landlords, and deeply researched case law to craft a policy that is legally sound. City leaders have done the groundwork in anticipation of legal backlash, and have the foundation to defend the SAFE Housing ordinance in court.
These policies have prevailed in court: Courts have determined that provisions in this ordinance are constitutional and consistent with the history of regulation of the tenant landlord relationship. Claims from landlords are not only inaccurate but racist dog-whistling.
Housing is a racial justice issue: Households of color are far more likely to be renters in St. Paul. For instance, 82% of Black households are renters compared to 39% of white households. Housing equity is an essential aspect of racial justice in our city.
Learn more at www.housingequitystp.org