Presentation to City of Minneapolis Housing Policy & Development Committee 5/8/19
What is HOME Line? • HOME Line is a statewide nonprofit organization providing free legal, educational, and advocacy services to Minnesota renters. We have served renters in Hennepin County since 1992. • Our primary program is a free and confidential legal hotline any renter can call or email to receive legal advice specific to their situation. • HOME Line has staff of 17 employees, including attorneys, tenant advocates, and tenant organizers. We also rely on law student and community volunteers and interns.
How can you reach HOME Line? • Renters in Minneapolis call for free advice: 612-728-5767 • Email an attorney for free from our website: homelinemn.org/email • Most households will either connect with an advocate right when they call or they will get a call back within the day. • We prefer to advise the tenant directly, but we often work alongside social workers, advocates, family members.
Service to Minneapolis residents in 2018 • 3,244 Minneapolis renter households contacted HOME Line’s Tenant Hotline for legal advice in 2018. This was approximately a 10% increase from 2017. The cost to serve the city was $169,113 . • During 2018, HOME Line helped renters from Minneapolis: • Recover and/or save an estimated $378,000 in damage deposits and rent abatements. • Prevent an estimated 224 evictions. • We spend an average of ½ hour with each client.
Client Demographics Income Level • More than two-thirds of our clients identify as Female. Very Low 20% Low • Close to half of our clients identify as Extremely Low 18% non-white. 47% Moderate • The vast majority (85%) of 15% Minneapolis renters advised by HOME Line are at or below low-income levels as defined by HUD. Data is from clients served in 2018
Where are we hearing from renters? # of Renter #4 260 Households #9 169 advised by Ward 421 #1 246 #7 Rank of calls 178 255 249 #8 #5 #6 by Ward 277 #3 407 #2 162 #10 115 #11 59 52 65 #13 68 100 #12 Data is from clients served in 2018
What are the most common issues? Reason for call # of calls (2018) 1. Repairs 679 2. Security Deposit 365 3. Eviction 314 4. Notice to Vacate 293 5. Break Lease 271 6. Lease questions 189 7. Privacy/Intrusion 173 8. Rental license 126 9. Infestation 102 10. Roommate 101
New this year: • We advise renters in 4 languages: English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. • Anyone can call our main hotline # (612-728-5767) and be directed to a specific language line, or dial directly: • Somali: 612-255-8860 • Spanish: 612-255-8870 • Hmong: 612-255-7104 • Increased eviction prevention efforts.
Tenant Hotline: 612-728-5767 …or online: homelinemn.org/email Thank You Eric Hauge Executive Director, HOME Line 612-255-8863 erich@homelinemn.org
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