TLDR; SMITTEN KITTEN FINALLY HAS A WAY TO TAKE ONLINE DONATIONS FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE - our current rental assistance list is 100 families long and each ask is an average of $1.4k ranging to $3k AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAS TAKEN TWO MONTHS TO DO WHAT WE AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF PROJECT METRO SURGE.

We have a match of up to 250k from the Wilson Foundation on donations that we raise.

Smitten Kitten is partnering with Neighbors Helping Neighbors due to the high volume of families who need rental assistance in Minneapolis. As many of you may know we started offering low barrier financial assistance to families effected by operation metro surge.

For the past 2 months our phones have been ringing off the hook with families desperate to stay inside the safety of their homes while ICE circles their blocks, their schools, their legal appointments, hospital visits and more.

Smitten Kitten has risen to the responsibility that our elected officials have taken two months to do. We have also risen to the occasion of bringing the rest of the world the reality that has been unfolding on our front doorstep (Lyndale and Lake St)

We have watched our neighbors be kidnapped, separated from their families and unable to meet their basic needs. Seeing this, we thought to ourselves "where the hell is the city and state government on all of this?" and also "we can't just sit here and watch this happen, we need to do something. now."

City and state elected officials have turned away from communities in the Minneapolis area that have been devastated by anti-immigration activities that have upended daily life. Thousands of families have spent months sheltering in place. Afraid to go to school, the doctors office, a funeral, a birthday party etc.

Many now face an urgent financial crisis: in March, households behind by up to three months on rent will be at risk of eviction. The average ask is $1,400 aka one months rent, but these families need so much more. THE CURRENT RENTAL DEBT OF MPLS COMBINED IS AN ESTIMATED 16 MILLION DOLLARS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OPERATION METRO SURGE.

The consequences extend far beyond losing a home. Eviction is a recognized adverse childhood experience with lasting effects on children’s lives, and an eviction record creates barriers to stable housing for years to come. The ripple effect of this occupation will continue on for generations and its our job as individuals to stand up and take care of each other.

We are combining the forces of Smitten Kitten and Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) to ensure no neighbor faces this crisis alone.

NHN is a community-led mutual aid network powered by volunteers. We are partnering with the Family Housing Fund to ensure donations quickly and safely reach those in need. Every dollar raised goes directly toward rent and food assistance. Please join us in supporting local families and donate today.

WE KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE. FED. AND HOUSED.