Since Operation Metro Surge began in December, thousands of immigrant workers across the Twin Cities have stayed home out of fear. Not because they don't want to work, but because going to work means risking detention. The economic fallout has been staggering.
Minneapolis alone estimates $15.7 million in additional monthly rental assistance is needed to cover households that have lost wages. Statewide, rent debt tied to the enforcement operation is estimated between $27 million and $51 million.
Eviction filings in Hennepin County hit 631 in January, a 45% jump from the same month last year. Across Minneapolis and St. Paul combined, over 1,300 evictions were filed that month. And housing advocates say the worst may still be coming, since landlords are often required to give 14- to 30-day notice before filing.
I want to be clear about something: this isn't just a tenant story. As a real estate professional, I talk to landlords. Many of them are small owners who've intentionally kept rents below market rate to build community. They're good people. And they can't float deferred payments indefinitely without risking mortgage defaults of their own. When a small landlord goes under, it's not just their loss, those costs get passed on to banks, to future tenants, to the neighborhood.
The calls for an eviction moratorium have been loud. The Minneapolis and St. Paul city councils have both passed resolutions urging Governor Walz to act, but the governor's office has indicated he doesn't currently have the legal authority to enact one without declaring a peacetime emergency, a move that carries legal and political complexity, particularly after the COVID-era moratorium drew criticism for fraud.
So where does that leave us? Hennepin County has allocated $9.6 million in emergency rental assistance, enough to prevent an estimated 2,500 evictions. The Minneapolis City Council added $1 million in city funds. But advocates say $50 million or more is needed to meet the real scale of the crisis.
While governmental policy lags, and real change takes time, I am continually encouraged to see how neighbors step up. Mutual aid networks across the Twin Cities, organized have distributed millions in rent relief already. Stand with Minnesota, one of the organizations I'm donating to (more on that in my newsletter), has curated a list of rent funds that are moving money directly to families. The Wilson Foundation is matching donations up to $1.5 million.
I believe housing is a human right. I also believe most landlords are doing their best (we’ll reserve huge investing institutions for another article). Both things can be true at once, and if you work in real estate, you know how true that is. This crisis needs structural solutions, AND it needs each of us asking: what can I do right now?
If you want to help, scroll down to the donation section or visit standwithminnesota.com.