News from HJC
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Right to Renew Passes in St. Paul!
On Tuesday, voters in St. Paul overwhelmingly voted to pass the right to repair measure. With this new tool, St. Paul renters have greater agency when their buildings need repairs. How does it work? When a rental unit needs repairs,…
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HJC Opposes HUD Changes Removing Civil Rights Protections
On October 9, 2026, the Housing Justice Center submitted comments opposing a HUD proposed rule that would remove long-standing civil rights protections governing every program HUD funds. The proposed rule, published August 10, 2026, would delete from HUD’s Title VI…
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Join Our Upcoming Webinar!
Turning that No Into a Yes: Navigating Housing Admission Denials Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 12:00-1:00 PM Virtual ZOOM Webinar When an apartment becomes available, who gets to move in – and who doesn’t? Rental property owners use a variety of…
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HJC Commemorates the Work of Jack Cann
The Housing Justice Center recently commemorated the work of Jack Cann, who co-founded HJC in 1999 as the Housing Preservation Project. Thanks to Jack’s tireless advocacy and commitment to justice, thousands of units of affordable housing have been preserved for…
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Laura Jelinek
Director of Litigation
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Housing Justice Center Opposes Rule Change to the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form
September 1, 2026 Housing Justice Center Opposes Rule Change to the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form HUD continues to try to make it harder for individuals to pursue their rights under the Fair Housing Act, most recently by proposing substantial changes…
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Housing Justice Center Opposes Rule Change that Threatens Federal Grantmaking
The Housing Justice Center today opposed a proposed rule by OMB that would destabilize the federal funding on which affordable housing and homeless services depend. The harmful impacts of this proposed rule would fall hardest on the low-income residents, people…
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Housing Justice Center Stands with the Transgender Community
June 30, 2026 Housing Justice Center Stands with the Transgender Community Today, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision refusing to prevent states from banning transgender children and adults from participating in sports on teams consistent with their gender…
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HOUSING JUSTICE CENTER ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP
Anne Smetak and Shana Tomenes Named Co-Executive Directors (Saint Paul, MN) – The Housing Justice Center (HJC) is proud to announce a new leadership structure for the organization, naming Anne Smetak and Shana Tomenes as Co-Executive Directors. This new leadership…
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Legislative Session Wrapped: Big Wins for Housing Justice!
The 2023 Legislative Session has wrapped, and Minnesota renters have a lot to celebrate! Housing justice advocates pushed for the successful passage of many new tenant protections and new funding for rental assistance. HJC priorities that passed include: HOME Line…