“When headlines have faded, we cannot be assured that the fear and damage will…McKnight is acting because housing stability is foundational. Families need resources now and a longer-term relief system to support them through the tail end of this crisis.”– TONYA ALLEN, ປະທານ, ມູນນິທິ MCKNIGHT
Minneapolis, MN – March 23, 2026: Today, the McKnight Foundation announced a $2.6 million investment in immediate rent relief and longer-term rent stabilization to keep families and residents housed as people face the direct and reverberating impacts of Operation Metro Surge.
Through two complementary investments, McKnight is both supporting residents at immediate risk of losing their housing and ensuring ongoing resources are available for people when direct relief has diminished. McKnight is directing these resources to two funds:
- Neighbors Helping Neighbors: $1 million for immediate, direct relief in the form of rapid grants to support families and residents at risk of losing housing because of Operation Metro Surge. This fund is fiscally sponsored by the ກອງທຶນຄອບຄົວຄອບຄົວ in partnership with Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
- Stable Home Fund: $1 million for immediate rent stabilization through zero-interest, no-fee rent-relief microloans administered by Esusu. Designed to provide ongoing support to qualifying renters in Minnesota, the fund extends the impact of the initial investment well beyond the immediate crisis moment. Esusu is also contributing $600,000 in matching funds, bringing the total Stable Home Fund investment to $1.6 million.
“When headlines have faded, we cannot be assured that the fear and damage will,” said Tonya Allen, President of the McKnight Foundation. “Much of that damage is quieter and harder to see—people missing work because it isn’t safe to leave home, businesses losing customers and struggling to pay employees, rent debt piling up, parents choosing between housing and groceries. McKnight is acting because housing stability is foundational. Families need resources now and a longer-term relief system to support them through the tail end of this crisis.”
These grants are designed to help families stay housed amid widespread fear, economic disruption, and mounting rent debt today and in the months ahead. Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Family Housing Fund quickly move resources through trusted community partners already embedded in metro neighborhoods hit hardest by Operation Metro Surge.
“Minnesotans have met this moment with extraordinary resolve,” said Anna Stamborksi, Co-Founder of Neighbors Helping Neighbors. “Community rent funds and grassroots donors have raised and distributed millions since January to keep neighbors housed and connected to their communities. McKnight Foundation’s $1 million investment meets that community power where it is, ensuring families facing housing instability can remain part of the neighborhoods they call home.”
“The nature of this crisis demands fast, flexible, direct relief,” said Ellen Sahli, President & CEO of the Family Housing Fund. “By working through Neighbors Helping Neighbors, this funding reaches families who may not be connected to traditional systems and who are at immediate risk of losing housing.”
In partnership with Esusu, the Stable Home Fund provides a no-interest revolving loan fund designed to extend the impact of philanthropic capital. As loans are repaid, funds recirculate to support additional households rather than disappearing after a single use.
“This partnership with McKnight Foundation and Neighbors Helping Neighbors is what community looks like in action,” said Anthony Holland, Stable Home Fund Board Member. “The Stable Home Fund and Esusu are proud to bring zero-interest rent relief to Minnesota families who deserve more than survival. They deserve stability, opportunity, and a real shot at the future they have already been working toward.”
These rapid response investments complement McKnight’s long‑term commitment to stable housing as a cornerstone of strong, healthy communities through its ໂຄງການຊຸມຊົນທີ່ມີຄວາມສີວິໄລແລະສະ ເໝີ ພາບ. Additionally, McKnight Foundation ປະກາດເມື່ອບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ its Board had approved deploying increased funding from its endowment beyond its existing grantmaking budget in 2026 to provide near-term relief for communities. These rent relief grants are the first part of that investment in near-term community stability.
“This funding is a part of fulfilling our responsibility as a Minnesota foundation, as part of this community, and as people who believe that a better world starts at home,” said McKnight Board Chair Ted Staryk. “We can’t achieve our long-term housing goals unless we also address the immediate needs of people facing unprecedented challenges right now. Two million dollars is a start, and we are calling on others to join us to keep Minnesota families housed.”
ກ່ຽວກັບມູນນິທິ McKnight
ມູນນິທິ McKnight, ມູນນິທິຄອບຄົວທີ່ຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃນລັດມິນນີໂຊຕາ, ສົ່ງເສີມອະນາຄົດທີ່ຍຸດຕິທຳ, ສ້າງສັນ ແລະ ອຸດົມສົມບູນກວ່າເກົ່າ ບ່ອນທີ່ຜູ້ຄົນ ແລະ ດາວເຄາະຈະເລີນຮຸ່ງເຮືອງ. ມູນນິທິ McKnight ຖືກສ້າງຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນໃນປີ 1953, ມີຄວາມມຸ່ງໝັ້ນຢ່າງເລິກເຊິ່ງຕໍ່ການພັດທະນາວິທີແກ້ໄຂດ້ານສະພາບອາກາດໃນພາກຕາເວັນຕົກກາງ; ການສ້າງລັດມິນນີໂຊຕາທີ່ຍຸດຕິທຳ ແລະ ມີຄວາມຮວມມື; ແລະ ສະໜັບສະໜູນສິລະປະ ແລະ ວັດທະນະທຳໃນລັດມິນນີໂຊຕາ, ວິທະຍາສາດປະສາດ, ແລະ ລະບົບອາຫານທົ່ວໂລກ.
About the Family Housing Fund and Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The Family Housing Fund is a Minnesota‑based organization working to ensure stable, affordable homes for families and individuals. Through Neighbors Helping Neighbors, the Fund provides rapid, community‑based assistance to households at risk of losing housing, working through trusted local partners.
About the Stable Home Fund
The Stable Home Fund began operations in 2020 as a solution to the overwhelming demand for a platform that integrates the renter and property owner’s need to expedite relief distribution, remedying rent in arrears and preventing eviction. For families with limited or no savings, the Stable Home Fund has provided over $16 million in rent relief, keeping families together in their homes during financial distress.
