In this episode of the Voice Podcast, Lorna Schmidt talks to Representative Mike Howard, a 2nd term legislator representing District 50A, which includes the suburb of Richfield, and who serves as Vice-Chair of the Housing Finance & Policy Committee.
The tendency is to think of housing as an issue at the municipal level but what role does the state play in addressing the housing crisis when each community’s needs are so different? Can statewide policy really meet local housing needs, given the diversity we see across the state?
As a member of the Social Justice Advocacy & Engagement team, I lead the strategic development and execution of Catholic Charities’ public policy agenda. My work covers local, state and federal levels, advocating for policies and programs that promote justice in the community.