2025 Legislative Session Recap

2025 Legislative Session Overview

Each spring, Catholic Charities heads to the Minnesota State Capitol to advocate for policies and funding that benefit people served through our programs.

The 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session featured divided opinions and contentious debates. Lawmakers were responsible for developing a budget for all of Minnesota, dictating how the State’s money would be spent for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (a period that runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027). In Minnesota, the regular session ends the first Monday following the third Saturday in May. This year, lawmakers missed that deadline and adjourned without a completed budget. Lawmakers negotiated an agreement, then called a one-day special session to complete their work and finish the budget. With a projected deficit of $6 billion in the next biennium (FY28-29), this year brought difficult decisions, including significant cuts in Health and Human Services.

Amidst the challenging financial landscape, Catholic Charities successfully advocated to preserve essential programs and hard-won funding for housing and homelessness.

Catholic Charities Legislative Priorities

 

1. Homeless Elders Program Funding

In 2023, Catholic Charities Twin Cities recieved a $1.5M direct appropriation to support our work with older adults experiencing homelessness. Since then, the program has successfully housed more than 300 vulnerable seniors. This year, we sought to reauthorize that funding to continue providing life-saving help in times of need.

We faced obstacles like a looming $6B deficit and additional scrutiny around direct appropriations to non-profit organizations, and different legislative dynamics — instead of having a surplus to spend, the Health & Human Services (HHS) Committee was tasked with cutting $70M from the base budget. In spite of these challenges, Catholic Charities successfully secured a $1M direct appropriation from the HHS budget to support our Homeless Elders Program.

2. Funding for Minnesota’s Homeless Response System

The Pathway Home Act of 2023 included historic investments in the Emergency Services Program and Homeless Youth Act, funding that supports the work of Minnesota’s homelessness response system. Grants from these programs help pay for Catholic Charities programs, including our adult and youth shelters.

In partnership with other organizations, Catholic Charities helped prevent cuts to 2023 investments, and successfully advocated for funding increases:

  • The Homeless Youth Act: $500K increase for FY26-27, and an ongoing increase to the base appropriation of $5.768M starting in FY28-29.
  • Safe Harbor: $1.86M increase to the base for FY26-27.
  • Wilder Foundation Homelessness Study: $1.2M one-time appropriation to the Wilder Foundation to conduct the Homelessness Study, which provides critical data to state lawmakers, local government and service providers as they build strategies to address homelessness across the state.

    • 3. Help People Find and Stay in Homes

    Supportive and affordable housing is the solution to ending homelessness, but affordable rental homes in Minnesota are at risk. In partnership with the Minnesota Housing Stability Coalition, Catholic Charities successfully advocated for funding and strategies to preserve existing affordable housing:

  • $8.35 million was awarded to the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP), including an ongoing $900,000 base budget increase.
  • The Housing Committee approved language requiring the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to work with non-profit providers to address distressed properties.

    • Media Coverage

  • Star Tribune: “A Push to Save Homeless Minnesota Seniors from the Streets,” by Jennifer Brooks (March 19, 2025)
  • KARE 11 TV: “Minnesota seniors face rising homelessness,” by Samie Solina (March 20, 2025)
  • MPR: “In tight budget year, Minnesota program to help homeless seniors faces stiff competition,” by Peter Cox (March 26, 2025)
  • Pioneer Press: “Report: Older buildings that house the very poor are in danger of being sold off as maintenance needs climb,” by Frederick Melo (March 5, 2025)
  • MPR: “Medicaid puzzle confronts Minnesota lawmakers. Federal cuts could hit health safety net program,” by Clay Masters (April 15, 2025)
  • MPR: “Why more Minnesotans are struggling to find an affordable place to live,” by Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom (March 20, 2025)
  • Pioneer Press: “Ramsey County: Veteran navigates social services amid backlog, possible federal cuts,” by Frederick Melo (June 28, 2025)

    Get Involved

    Interested in getting involved with Catholic Charities advocacy? Please contact Carole Specktor, Community Advocacy Manager, at carole.specktor@cctwincities.org.

    Learn more