With an eviction crisis looming, Minneapolis and St. Paul leaders take a stab at solutions

Twin Cities Grapple with Rental Crisis in Wake of Immigration Enforcement Operation

Across the Twin Cities, a growing housing crisis triggered by Operation Metro Surge has residents and officials scrambling to find solutions as thousands of immigrant families face potential eviction. The immigration enforcement action has disrupted many households’ ability to earn income, creating a ripple effect through the rental market.

In response, Minneapolis City Council narrowly passed an ordinance with a 7-5 vote extending the eviction timeline from 30 to 60 days, giving affected renters more time to address unpaid rent. However, the measure has sparked debate about whether it actually helps or harms vulnerable residents.

Critics, including five council members who voted against it, worry the extended timeline might allow renters to accumulate more debt before facing inevitable eviction. Several affordable housing providers have expressed similar concerns about unintended consequences.

“When residents get behind, it works best when the process that then happens is predictable and consistent,” explained Laura Russ, chief real estate officer at Aeon, a Minnesota nonprofit that owns nearly 6,000 homes statewide. She cautioned that changing the timeline could create confusion similar to what occurred during COVID-19 eviction moratoriums.

Conversely, tenant advocacy organizations view the extension as a crucial lifeline. Eric Hauge, co-executive director of HomeLine, revealed that “in the last quarter alone we have received more financial assistance calls than in any quarter during the COVID-19 pandemic.” He characterized the ordinance as “a temporary solution to a temporary problem.”

Both sides agree on one critical point: without substantial financial assistance, particularly from the state, the situation will worsen regardless of eviction timelines. Minneapolis and St. Paul have already directed millions toward emergency rental assistance, with Minneapolis allocating over $1 million to Hennepin County’s estimated $9.6 million rent relief program and St. Paul redirecting $1.42 million toward similar efforts.

A more ambitious $75 million emergency rental assistance bill has been introduced in the Minnesota Senate, though its prospects remain uncertain after a $50 million proposal was rejected in a House committee earlier this month. Governor Tim Walz has thus far resisted calls for a statewide eviction moratorium.

The situation highlights a fundamental gap in Minnesota’s housing safety net. Nick Graetz, a University of Minnesota researcher collaborating with Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, estimates that Minnesota typically needs about $22 million monthly in emergency rental assistance—funds that rarely materialize in full.

“We’re just barely scraping by helping the most affected folks in a normal month,” Graetz noted, emphasizing that Operation Metro Surge has merely exposed existing vulnerabilities in the housing system.

Another complexity involves determining who qualifies for assistance. While some have suggested targeting aid specifically to those affected by immigration enforcement actions, others worry this approach could create bureaucratic delays and potentially dangerous documentation requirements.

Council member Jamison Whiting proposed allowing residents to self-certify that immigration enforcement had impacted their ability to pay rent, but fellow Council member Jason Chavez strongly opposed the idea, likening it to creating an “ICE hit list.”

St. Paul is considering similar eviction extension measures, with a final vote expected on March 18. If approved, their ordinance would remain in effect through the end of 2022, significantly longer than Minneapolis’ August 31 deadline.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey now has until March 12 to decide whether to sign or veto the ordinance. In a statement, he described it as a “blunt measure” and indicated he was carefully weighing whether it “helps or hinders our city.”

As the immediate crisis unfolds, housing advocates hope the renewed attention might spark more comprehensive solutions to Minnesota’s affordable housing challenges.

“It’s something that at some point we’re going to have to deal with on that structural level,” Graetz concluded, pointing to the need for systematic reform rather than just emergency responses.