Stairstep Foundation, a faith-based nonprofit organization, is suing two Minnesota government agencies over what it claims is racial discrimination in the agencies’ housing policies. 

In its brief, the plaintiff claims the housing policies of the defendants, Minnesota Housing and the Met Council, are “knowingly causing and exacerbating residential racial segregation in the Twin Cities” and are concentrating the placement of subsidized housing in less affluent communities that are more likely to be comprised of communities of color. 

Stairstep, founded in 1992, says it seeks to implement a “community-institution-based strategy focused on convening African American churches to work collaboratively to address issues common to their congregations and communities, and to demonstrate the power of unified action.” 

In its request for relief, Stairstep is seeking that Ramsey County Court declares the Met Council and Minnesota Housing are implementing “land use and subsidized housing policies that create and perpetuate residential racial segregation.” 

It is also seeking that the defendants permanently cease employing any “land use and subsidized housing policies that create and perpetuate residential racial segregation.” Stairstep is also seeking attorney’s fees. 

At the time of publishing, neither Minnesota Housing nor the Met Council made any public comments on the lawsuit, nor did they file any response briefs with Ramsey County Court.