What We Do

Summary of Advocacy Work – March 2024

Our committee members and volunteers have been working hard this legislative session to educate policy makers on justice issues for elders and their families under our program umbrellas. Here is a summary of the policy focus and the progress so far.

Broadband Equity

All Elders is leading efforts to provide equitable broadband access for seniors and their caregivers.  Our definition of the elements of Broadband Equity include Access, Affordability, Training, Tools, and Integration into Services. 

The current definition of Broadband Equity from the state of Minnesota does not cover any of these elements for seniors or for any other consumer group. The state’s definition only covers entities and their workforce that are applying for grants to install broadband structures.

Our goal is to make sure that, since taxpayer dollars are being used to build and expand the broadband infrastructure, and since broadband is a necessary daily utility, and since justice requires reasonable access regardless of income and ability, that the legislature consider  legislation that will effectively address the elements of equity for current and future generations.

We are currently in conversations with a state senate representative that is working on developing a bill that addresses our concerns.


Housing

All Elders is working collaboratively on a number of initiatives for policy changes to address critical housing issues for seniors. These include:

  • Source of Income Protection: 

In collaboration with Minnesota Housing Partnership, Community Stabilization Project, and others, All Elders is partnering to enable the prohibition of discrimination against renters whose sources of income is from public assistance or other subsidizing sources.

  • The Minnesota ERASE campaign (End Rental Arrears and Stop Evictions).

This is a coalition effort that proposes sustained funding for housing subsidies to reach those with the lowest income and the homeless. During the 2023 session, the legislature approved $50 million for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP).

  • Environmental Issues

All Elders is also in conversations with house and senate representatives on proposals that will construct higher density housing units, but at the expense of removing environmental protections, and without guarantee that the added housing will address housing adaptations for seniors.

  • Housing as a Human Right

We continue efforts to build a coalition around our long-term campaign for statutory recognition that access to housing is a human right

Care Giving

All Elders is working with Elder Voice Advocates, our members and their organizations on concerns about the effect of the Disability Waiver Reimagine proposals.

Part of the Reimagine process is to consolidate the current four waivers, identified by type of disability (Brain Injury (BI), Community Alternative Care (CAC), Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) and Developmental Disabilities (DD), into two waivers based upon whether the person lives in an institutional facility or at home in a self-selected community setting.

Based upon current budget assessments for each living situation, it is projected that budgets for living at home will be significantly reduced to the point that services will either be reduced, or the individual will need to move into an institutional facility.

We are working with pour partners and legislators to educate them on our concerns and the expected consequences of the current waiver reimagine projections.