SF4495 Summary

• Prohibits eviction filings, lease terminations, and writs of recovery for 60 days after March 24, 2020 during a public health emergency, except for cases involving tenant safety violations or property damage.

• Allows the governor to extend the eviction prohibition for up to 30 additional days if the public health emergency persists, with no extensions permitted beyond this 30-day period.

• Appropriates $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 for emergency housing assistance grants to prevent homelessness and help maintain homeownership for individuals and families affected by COVID-19.

• Establishes eligibility requirements for assistance including a public-health-related emergency, past-due housing or utility payments, inability to pay due to the emergency, and household income under 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

• Requires the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to report by February 8, 2021 on program performance, including number of grants awarded, total funding distributed, and geographic distribution by county.