Minnesotans Crowdsource to Cover Rent for Immigrant Neighbors

Community members rally to support families at risk of eviction amid ongoing ICE presence

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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In Minneapolis, residents are banding together to crowdsource funds and directly cover the rent of immigrant families who are staying home due to fear of ICE and federal law enforcement presence in the area. This grassroots effort has gained momentum on social media, with individuals launching successful campaigns to raise thousands of dollars to pay rent for dozens of households. However, local leaders and activists acknowledge that the need far exceeds what can be addressed through individual donations, calling for more robust government intervention such as an eviction moratorium.

Why it matters

The ongoing presence of ICE and other federal agencies in the Minneapolis area has compelled many immigrant residents to stay home, leaving them unable to work and struggling to pay rent. This crisis highlights the vulnerability of immigrant communities and the need for comprehensive solutions to ensure housing stability, beyond relying on individual crowdfunding efforts.

The details

Residents like Ashley Fairbanks have taken to social media to urgently request rent payments for dozens of immigrant families facing eviction. Within hours, the community has responded by directly sending funds through platforms like Venmo. While this grassroots effort has been inspiring, local leaders and advocates like Minneapolis Council member Robin Wonsley and Jessica Mathias of Open Your Heart To The Hungry And Homeless acknowledge that the scale of need is far greater than what can be addressed through individual donations. They are calling for government intervention, such as an eviction moratorium, to provide more time and resources for residents to access rental assistance.

  • On a recent weekday morning, Ashley Fairbanks put out a call for rent payments on social media.
  • Within 2 hours, the 12 families Fairbanks identified had their rent paid.
  • Within 12 hours, 43 families had received rent assistance through the crowdsourcing campaign.
  • On Feb. 5, the Minneapolis City Council approved sending $1 million in funds to Hennepin County for one-time rental assistance, which is estimated to help around 250 families.

The players

Ashley Fairbanks

A former Minneapolitan who now lives in Texas, Fairbanks has created the website Stand With Minnesota, which has become a repository for Minnesota-based fundraisers and mutual aid networks seeking donations for rental assistance.

Robin Wonsley

A Minneapolis City Council member who has called the current rental assistance efforts a "drop in the bucket" compared to the scale of need.

Jessica Mathias

The executive director of Open Your Heart To The Hungry And Homeless, an organization that is managing funds from existing fundraisers and organizing its own rent relief efforts, prioritizing households with children and those at immediate risk of eviction.

Yusra Murad

An organizer with United Renters for Justice who has tried to keep track of the numerous crowdsourcing campaigns for rental assistance, acknowledging that the need far exceeds what can be addressed through individual donations.

Nick Graetz

A sociology professor at the University of Minnesota who emphasizes the need to be serious about the scale of need, citing a 2025 report that estimated the annual cost of meeting emergency assistance for Minnesota's low-income households is $350 million.

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What they’re saying

“It's not sustainable. People are maxing out their credit cards and emptying their savings accounts to pay other people's rent.”

— Ashley Fairbanks (cbsnews.com)

“It's not enough even for the month of February.”

— Yusra Murad, Organizer, United Renters for Justice (cbsnews.com)

“Every single avenue that could possibly keep a family housed is worth pursuing.”

— Yusra Murad, Organizer, United Renters for Justice (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Minneapolis City Council is expected to decide on a potential eviction moratorium in the coming weeks, which could provide more time and resources for residents to access rental assistance.

The takeaway

This grassroots effort to crowdsource rent payments for immigrant families highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address housing insecurity, beyond relying on individual donations. Local leaders and advocates are calling for robust government intervention, such as an eviction moratorium and increased funding for emergency rental assistance, to ensure that all residents have access to stable housing.