Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has decided to veto the City Council's recently passed eviction extension ordinance in favor of direct aid.
The mayor is instead pushing a $1 million emergency rental assistance investment, arguing that direct financial support is a more effective tool for housing stability than delaying legal timelines.
“Keeping people in their homes is the goal — and that’s exactly why we’re putting real dollars on the table today,” said Mayor Frey. “Stopping evictions may sound good, but experience from COVID shows it’s not the answer: Rental assistance is. Getting help to families quickly is the most effective way to prevent eviction, and that’s exactly what this investment does.”
The city council must now decide whether to attempt an override the veto or move forward with the mayor's alternative funding proposal.
“I support the Mayor’s decision to veto this ordinance,” said Ward 4 Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw. “We heard directly from housing nonprofits and service providers on the front lines who warned that extending the eviction notice period would function as a debt trap for many renters. I trust and listen to the expertise of the people doing the work and dealing with the consequences firsthand, and their message is clear: families don’t need more time to fall behind on rent—they need real rental assistance to stay housed.”
The new proposal comes as many citizens are navigating heightened uncertainty following recent federal immigration enforcement activity across the Twin Cities.
If approved by the City Council, the City will distribute the funding through its partnership with Hennepin County. The mayor's office notes that these funds will not require an eviction filing for residents to access.
Through Friday, Minneapolis recorded 982 eviction filings in 2026, compared to 1,040 during the same period in 2025 — a 5.5% decrease. January and February eviction filings are both down compared to the same months in 2025.
