Since 2019, the East Side Freedom Library’s Housing Justice Program has continued the Library’s tradition of bringing neighbors, community organizations, and allies together to confront housing inequity and injustice in Saint Paul.
We believe that lasting change arises from collective action. Through dialogue, education, and organizing, the Housing Justice Program empowers the community to:
- Challenge systemic injustices affecting renters, homeowners, and our unhoused community members.
- Transform the narrative around housing justice through community-led initiatives.
- Build power through capacity-building, community organizing, coalition work, cooperative investment, storytelling, and education.
Program Areas
The Housing Justice Program at ESFL is dedicated to advancing housing equity through a variety of initiatives and collaborative efforts:
- Community-Led Exhibits: Showcasing the history of housing activism in Saint Paul, including the History of Housing Activism Community Exhibit, a multi-modal project exploring stories of resistance against housing injustice in the Twin Cities. This exhibit aims to deepen our understanding of the spaces we occupy and inspire changes in our housing systems connecting past and present to inform the future of our advocacy.
- Educational Events and Workshops: Addressing housing justice issues through a racial equity lens while exploring interconnected struggles like policing, land sovereignty, and energy justice.
- Collaborative Spaces: Providing platforms for the Housing Justice Coalition and community organizers to strategize, connect, and advance housing justice. Convened by ESFL, the Coalition has brought together nonprofits and business partners for the past four years to break down silos in housing and focus on advocacy, grassroots organizing, and community education on intersectional issues. The Coalition also hosts the annual East Side Housing Summit, featuring speakers, resources, and artists while creating space for community voices.
- Equitable Development: As demand for housing increases across the Twin Cities, the East Side has begun attracting new development and residents due to low land and housing costs. Historically, East Siders have been excluded from development plans by the city and private developers. The Housing Justice Program is committed to policies and developments that reduce disparities and meet community needs.
- Cooperatives and Community Ownership: The East Side Community Investment Cooperative is a new collaborative effort aimed at preventing displacement, encouraging neighborhood self-determination, increasing local ownership, and maintaining affordable rentals for both businesses and residents.
- Art Activation: Utilizing art to inspire and mobilize East Side residents to come together and unite around housing justice issues.
East Side Housing Justice Coalition Members Include:
- Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH)
- Family Values for Life
- District Councils 1,2,4 and 5
- Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services (DBNHS)
- ABC Realty
- Face2Face
- Minnesota Homeownership Center
Interested in participating in our efforts? Join us in reshaping the future of housing in Saint Paul. Reach out to housingjustice@eastsidefreedomlibrary.org