1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to housing; requiring the establishment of a stable housing mediation grant 
1.3 	program; appropriating money for the stable housing mediation grant program.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. MINNESOTA STABLE HOUSING MEDIATION GRANT PROGRAM.
 1.6 	The commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency shall establish a housing mediation 
1.7 	grant program to increase access to voluntary housing mediation services for renters and 
1.8 	homeowners. The grant program shall provide funding to mediation facilities certified by 
1.9 	the state under section 494.015 that can increase access to housing mediation throughout 
1.10 	the state, increase the availability of culturally specific dispute resolution programs, reduce 
1.11 	the need for court actions, and bring stability in housing. The grant funding must be used 
1.12 	to:
1.13 	(1) provide mediation services to benefit renters, property owners, households, utility 
1.14 	providers, and homeowners statewide and increase awareness of access to mediation services 
1.15 	and expand statewide mediation services;
1.16 	(2) provide eviction prevention services including access to mediation services that 
1.17 	prevent eviction court costs and reduce negative consequences to families, schools, 
1.18 	employers, neighborhoods, and communities;
1.19 	(3) partner with culturally specific dispute resolution programs to provide training and 
1.20 	assist in providing mediation services virtually and in-person;
1.21 	(4) increase mediation services for seniors and tenants with disabilities and illnesses 
1.22 	who face housing instability;
2.1 	(5) increase the diversity of the housing mediator roster;
2.2 	(6) integrate existing and future housing mediation services with legal assistance and 
2.3 	court services programs; and
2.4 	(7) develop and administer evaluation tools in order to design, modify, and replicate 
2.5 	effective program outcomes.

2.6 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.7 	$425,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.8 	of the Housing Finance Agency for the Minnesota stable housing mediation grant program. 
2.9 	This appropriation is onetime and available until June 30, 2024.