Delivering for Renters: Jamal Osman’s Record on Housing
Delivering for Renters: Jamal Osman’s Record on Housing
September 29, 2025 - Minneapolis, MN
Housing is the foundation of everything else in life. Without a stable home, it’s nearly impossible to keep a job, focus on school, or stay healthy. In Minneapolis - a majority-renter city where over 50% of households rent, and Ward 6 neighborhoods like Elliot Park and Cedar-Riverside push that to 90% - too many families face impossible choices: rent or groceries, unsafe housing or homelessness, displacement or instability. Ward 6 feels these challenges most sharply, with diverse communities of immigrants, students, workers, and families all relying on affordable, safe homes to thrive.
And it’s where Council Member Jamal Osman has made housing his mission. Since 2020, Jamal - a Somali immigrant, community advocate, and father of five - has been fighting for renters and delivering results that keep families rooted, expand affordable options, and hold bad landlords accountable. His work shows what it looks like when City Hall puts people first.
Protecting Families from Eviction
One of Jamal’s first victories was passing the 30-Day Pre-Eviction Notice ordinance, which extended the previous 14-day requirement to give renters more time before landlords can file for eviction. Before this reform, families could lose their homes almost overnight, with little warning and no chance to prepare. Parents scrambled to keep kids in school, workers lost access to transportation, and entire families were uprooted in days - exacerbating Minneapolis’s eviction rates, which hit vulnerable communities hardest post-COVID.
Now, that 30-day buffer (effective March 2025) means families have time to access rental assistance, pay arrears, or find alternatives, reducing sudden homelessness by thousands citywide. Why does this matter? It prevents the ripple effects of displacement - like kids changing schools mid-year or families falling into deeper poverty - while saving the city costs on emergency services. Tenant advocates hail it as a cornerstone protection that keeps communities intact.
“Evictions devastate lives and tear neighborhoods apart. This ordinance gives families a real fighting chance to stay rooted, especially in diverse wards like ours where stability supports everything from education to economic opportunity.” - CM Jamal Osman
Why this matters:
Stronger eviction protections keep families housed, prevent kids from switching schools mid-year, and reduce costly emergency interventions - strengthening neighborhood stability across Ward 6.
Investing in Deeply Affordable Housing
Jamal also knows protections only go so far if there aren’t enough homes people can afford. That’s why he has secured millions through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and federal grants to build deeply affordable projects tailored to Ward 6’s needs.
Key wins include Wadaag Commons in Cedar-Riverside (opened July 2025 with 40+ units for low-income families) and expansions at Avivo Village near Downtown (adding supportive housing for those transitioning from homelessness). These developments turn vacant lots into stable homes with rents capped at 30 - 50% of area median income, prioritizing immigrants, essential workers, and families. Why does this matter? In a city facing a 50,000-unit affordable housing shortage, these projects reduce waitlists, lower overall rents by increasing supply, and boost health outcomes - residents report fewer ER visits and better mental health in safe, quality housing. They also foster community pride, with features like cultural spaces at Wadaag.
“Affordable housing isn’t optional - it’s essential for building strong, inclusive communities. Investments like Wadaag Commons and Avivo Village show we can create homes that uplift families, honor diversity, and address homelessness head-on.” - CM Jamal Osman
Community impact:
Stability for immigrant families, students, and essential workers. Lower citywide rents over time through increased supply. Improved health outcomes and community pride.
Why this matters:
Building deeply affordable homes tackles the shortage head-on, reduces homelessness, and ensures working families and new Americans can put down roots in Minneapolis - strengthening Ward 6 for the long term.
Taking on Slumlords
Even as new homes are built and protections strengthened, too many renters remain stuck in unsafe conditions created by negligent landlords. Jamal has heard stories of families enduring mold (linked to asthma spikes in kids), pests, broken heating, and lead exposure - while over 8,000 rental units citywide fall below basic standards, concentrated in diverse areas like Phillips and near the University.
That’s why on September 17, Jamal introduced the STOP Slumlords Ordinance (Slumlord Tier Oversight and Protection). If passed, it would end automatic license renewals for the worst properties, requiring public Council votes, corrective plans, and potential revocations - with relocation assistance (three months’ rent) for affected tenants. Why does this matter? It tackles health inequities (for example, fewer pest-related illnesses), saves taxpayer dollars on repeat inspections, and empowers renters through transparency - raising standards across 1,000+ substandard licenses. Co-sponsored by CMs Wonsley, Chowdhury, and Cashman, it’s set for a public hearing tomorrow (Sept 30) and a possible full Council vote in October.
To read more about this ordinance, check out our previous article on STOP Slumlords.
“As Chair of the Housing Committee, I’ve seen how bad landlords destabilize entire blocks. This ordinance is about real accountability - ensuring renters get safe homes, not hazards, and holding owners to the standards our communities deserve.” - CM Jamal Osman
Why this matters:
Accountability for slumlords protects public health, keeps families safe through winter, and ensures renters never have to choose between unsafe conditions or losing their home.
Why This Record Matters
Housing is the defining challenge of our city - and Jamal Osman has shown the leadership Minneapolis needs, delivering protections that prevent crises, investments that build opportunity, and accountability that promotes equity. His work matters because it directly improves lives: fewer evictions mean stronger families, more affordable units mean thriving neighborhoods, and tougher oversight means healthier homes for all, especially in Ward 6’s diverse tapestry of immigrants, workers, and students.
Why Jamal’s housing record matters - and why he’ll keep delivering:
Jamal has a proven record of fighting for renters and winning tangible results. Re-electing Jamal means building on this progress - advancing rent stabilization, strengthening public housing, and expanding tenant-led solutions - so every renter in Minneapolis has a safe, stable, and affordable home.
Resources and background:
Previous coverage: STOP Slumlords: Council Member Jamal Osman’s Ordinance to Protect Renters
Public comment: City of Minneapolis Written Testimony Form
Committee info: Business, Housing & Zoning Committee
FAQ: STOP Slumlords FAQ (City PDF)
Tenant protections: Tenant Relocation Assistance ordinance text
Watch live: City of Minneapolis YouTube Live
Rank Jamal Osman #1 - because results matter.
Learn more: jamalosman.org
Media Inquiries: info@jamalosman.org
Thank you to the Ward 6 neighbors who continue to stand with Jamal for safe, affordable housing. Together, we’re building a stronger Minneapolis. ~ Team Jamal