MINNESOTA PETITION: Amid COVID-19 Outbreak, Ban All Evictions & Utility Shut-Offs

Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, AG Ellison, MN House and Senate Leadership, Mayor Frey, Mayor Carter, County Officials, and City Council Leadership

Minnesota residents are in the middle of a public health crisis. In order to halt widespread displacement from our homes and our jobs — we are calling on Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, AG Ellison, MN House and Senate Leadership, Mayor Frey, Mayor Carter, County Officials, and City Council Leadership to enact the following measures:

  • A moratorium on all evictions and suspension of eviction court
  • Extending paid sick days to at least 8 weeks
  • Opening state health exchange for special enrollment period
  • Forgiving all fees or debts accrued for utilities, housing, and other basic services during the crisis period
  • A moratorium on utility shut-offs, and restoring ability to take over local power production
  • Ensuring frontline healthcare workers receive testing, PPE, resources, and hazard pay
  • Prohibiting the termination of telephone, internet, and cable services
  • Canceling all student loan and medical debt
  • Guaranteeing pay for all school workers if schools are shut down
  • A rent moratorium and ending state preemption of rent control
  • Waiving all public transit fares, and protecting drivers by closing off the driver's area and only using back entry for buses
  • Citywide meals-on-wheels programs
  • Suspended mortgage payments and a moratorium on foreclosures
  • Furloughing all prisoners awaiting trial and enacting a moratorium on cash bail
  • Releasing all people from ICE custody and ending all ICE operations in the state
  • Using emergency powers to commandeer hotels, uncondemned vacant properties, and underutilized dwellings to accommodate homeless individuals when existing shelters and temporary homes reach capacity
  • Increase unemployment benefits for all workers including gig, tipped and others, to 100% of lost wages with a minimum of $600 per week ($15 / hour)
  • Canceling construction of Line 3 and denying any remaining permits for the project

With each passing day, more and more people are at risk of contracting the global pandemic, COVID-19. This crisis will affect homeless, poor, ill, and elderly people most of all — and those who face homelessness or day-to-day housing insecurity are at a higher risk of being exposed to the virus, becoming ill, and suffering catastrophic health outcomes.

Workers will face a substantial loss of income as we self-isolate and stay home from work to protect our community's health. Additionally, evictions and homelessness will significantly worsen the transmission of COVID-19.

Thankfully, leaders in San Jose, San Francisco, and Miami-Dade County have taken similar actions to guarantee housing as a human right, while mitigating the unfolding crisis.

Please sign the below petition to demand our elected officials take immediate action!

To: Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, AG Ellison, MN House and Senate Leadership, Mayor Frey, Mayor Carter, County Officials, and City Council Leadership
From: [Your Name]

Amid the coronavirus global pandemic and ensuing economic crisis, Minnesota must take action to protect our most vulnerable communities.

Housing is a human right, and no one should be put at risk of eviction, displacement, homelessness, or poverty due to missing a paycheck. Residents need protections guaranteeing housing despite loss of income incurred during a pandemic.

We are calling on Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, AG Ellison, MN House and Senate Leadership, Mayor Frey, Mayor Carter, County Officials, and City Council Leadership to enact the following measures:

• A moratorium on all evictions and suspension of eviction court
• Extending paid sick days to at least 8 weeks
• Opening state health exchange for special enrollment period​
• Forgiving all fees or debts accrued for utilities, housing, and other basic services during the crisis period
• A moratorium on utility shut-offs, and restoring ability to take over local power production
• Ensuring frontline healthcare workers receive testing, PPE, resources, and hazard pay
• Prohibiting the termination of telephone, internet, and cable services​
• Canceling all student loan and medical debt
• Guaranteeing pay for all school workers if schools are shut down
• A rent moratorium and ending state preemption of rent control
• Waiving all public transit fares, and protecting drivers by closing off the driver's area and only using back entry for buses
• Citywide meals-on-wheels programs
• Suspended mortgage payments and a moratorium on foreclosures
• Furloughing all prisoners awaiting trial and enacting a moratorium on cash bail
• Releasing all people from ICE custody and ending all ICE operations in the state
• Using emergency powers to commandeer hotels, uncondemned vacant properties, and underutilized dwellings to accommodate homeless individuals when existing shelters and temporary homes reach capacity
• Increase unemployment benefits for all workers including gig, tipped and others, to 100% of lost wages with a minimum of $600 per week ($15 / hour)
• Canceling construction of Line 3 and denying any remaining permits for the project

These demands must be met during uncontrollable events that cannot be forestalled, including but not limited to: pandemic, severe weather or environmental conditions, economic recession, contamination, civil disorder, and other unforeseeable circumstances.

Leaders in San Jose​, San Francisco​, and Miami-Dade County​ have quickly taken similar actions to guarantee housing as a human right, while mitigating the unfolding crisis. Please stand with us in order to stop preventable illness and displacement.