Homes for All and Other Legislative Efforts You Should Know About — February 4, 2019

WHAT IS HOMES FOR ALL?

This particular effort will have a huge impact on our residents, and those who are on our waiting list. This year, Homes for All Minnesota is advocating for bonds to create more affordable supportive housing, and further funding for existing supportive services and housing.

With these resources, we aim to prevent homelessness, provide emergency shelter, and keep people in their existing housing. We also hope to build and preserve affordable housing and provide rental assistance. You can learn more about these efforts here.

AIDS ACTION DAY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Clare Housing is a member of the HIV Action Network. We advocate for policies that help prevent new HIV infections and keep people living with HIV healthy and undetectable.

We want you to know the various legislative policies that we are advocating for this session that were presented at the recent AIDS Action Day. If you feel inspired to support them, please contact your representative about the initiatives below, or learn more on the HIV Action Network website.

PrEP and nPEP Drug Assistance Program
This is aimed at increasing the availability of PrEP, a once-a-day pill that radically reduces the chances that someone can contract HIV.

MNCare/MA HIV Drug Co-Pay Assistance
This measure would ensure low-income people living with HIV are able to afford their medication despite co-pay requirements they may have.

Comprehensive Sex Education
Require all school districts to provide sex education that includes age-appropriate and medically accurate information, and that encourages skills to prevent sexual violence, and reduce sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.

Mental Health Protections Act (HF12/SF83)
Protect LGBTQ Minnesotans from harmful Conversion Therapy. Ensure people receive mental healthcare that is ethical, affirming and culturally appropriate.

Healthcare Worker Monitoring Program Repeal
Repeal outdated, unscientific and stigmatizing requirement for healthcare workers living with HIV to be reported to the Health Department and submitted to a monitoring plan.

NEED A LITTLE INSPIRATION?

The list of efforts above may seem daunting, but they would not be on the HIV Action Network’s agenda if we did not believe they are achievable. In fact, there appears to be a lot of positive support on both sides of the aisle for the Mental Health Protections Act.

If you would like an inspiring speech to fire you up about the work that needs to be done this year, we encourage you watch the speech of Reverend DeWayne Davis, Clare Housing board member and pastor at All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church. He delivered his impassioned call to action at AIDS Action Day.