Campaign mailing address: PO Box 11332 Minneapolis, MN 55411
Office Sought: Minneapolis City Council Ward 5
Are you an Incumbent or Challenger: Challenger- it’s a open seat the Incumbent is not running
City of Residence: Minneapolis
How long have you lived in your community?
20+ years collectively
Are you a Homeowner or Renter?
Homeowner
Do you own other real property (e.g. Business, Cabin, Investment, or Rental Property)? If so, which?
Business and home
Describe your civic and/or community engagement.
I’m Tinitha “Pearll” Warren, a lifelong resident of North Minneapolis and candidate for City Council in Ward 5. My civic engagement is rooted in over 20 years of serving my community through housing advocacy, financial empowerment, and the arts. As a spoken-word artist and founder of Words of Wise-Dome, I’ve used poetry and storytelling to uplift voices in our neighborhoods, especially among youth. Professionally, I serve as the Homeownership Development Manager at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, and I’m a HUD-certified counselor. I’ve helped countless families—particularly in underserved communities—achieve financial stability and the dream of homeownership. My campaign is focused on housing equity, community safety, and economic development. I support recruiting local officers who understand our neighborhoods, revitalizing vacant properties, and allowing small businesses to thrive in residential areas. I oppose harmful transit plans that divide our community and advocate for using federal funding to prevent displacement. I’m committed to real, community-centered leadership—showing up at forums, leading caucus trainings, and listening to residents. I’m running to build a Minneapolis that works for everyone, especially those who’ve historically been left out.
What are the most important housing challenges facing your community?
Some of the most pressing housing challenges facing your community include affordability, displacement, and the quality of rental housing. Rising rents and home prices are pushing long-time residents—especially low-income families and communities of color—out of neighborhoods they’ve called home for generations. At the same time, access to homeownership remains out of reach for many due to historic disparities in lending, income inequality, and lack of affordable homes for first-time buyers. Another major issue is the condition of rental housing. Many renters live in units that are poorly maintained, with limited accountability for landlords. This contributes to unsafe living conditions and health risks for families. Vacant and underused properties also impact neighborhood vitality, leading to lost opportunities for community investment and economic growth. Additionally, inconsistent enforcement of housing codes and limited access to culturally competent financial education make it harder for residents to navigate the system or advocate for their rights. Overall, the community needs stronger tenant protections, more affordable and accessible pathways to homeownership, and intentional investment in revitalizing properties—without displacing the people who already live there. Addressing these issues is essential to building stable, healthy, and thriving neighborhoods.
The Twin Cities Metro is facing a housing shortage unlike any we have experienced in recent history. What will you do to increase the number of homes available to residents of your community?
The Twin Cities is facing a serious housing shortage, and in Ward 5, we feel it deeply. As someone who’s worked in affordable housing for over 20 years, I know that we can’t solve this crisis without a plan that puts people—especially those most impacted—at the center. I believe we must increase housing options without pushing out longtime residents. I support revitalizing vacant and underused properties in our community to create more homes and bring stability to our blocks. I also back zoning reforms that allow for more flexible housing types and small-scale development—like duplexes and fourplexes—that fit our neighborhoods and meet real needs. As Homeownership Development Manager at Habitat for Humanity, I’ve seen how access to homeownership transforms families. I’ll fight to expand programs that help working families buy homes and build generational wealth. At the same time, I’ll push the city to invest in stronger rental inspections and enforce accountability so all residents have safe, quality housing. We need more homes—but we need the *right* homes, built with equity, affordability, and community in mind. That’s the vision I’m committed to delivering on the City Council.
Minnesota has one of the largest homeownership gaps between Whites and Blacks, Indigenous, and People of Color. This is one of MAR’s primary concerns. What would you propose at the local level to close this home ownership gap?
Minnesota’s racial homeownership gap is one of the worst in the country—and that’s unacceptable. As a Black woman who works every day to help families become homeowners, I see the barriers firsthand: lack of access to credit, rising home prices, systemic discrimination, and a shortage of affordable starter homes. At the local level, I would expand support for **first-generation and first-time homebuyers**, especially in BIPOC communities. This includes down payment assistance, credit counseling, and financial literacy programs that are culturally relevant and community-based. I also believe the City must partner with trusted organizations—like Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, where I serve as Homeownership Development Manager—to build and preserve affordable homes and create clear, accessible pathways to ownership. We should prioritize **developing on vacant lots**, **increasing city investment** in homebuyer education, and **targeting resources** toward families historically excluded from owning property. We need to treat housing like the civil rights issue it is. Closing the racial homeownership gap isn’t just about equity—it’s about building generational wealth, stabilizing neighborhoods, and giving every family a fair shot at a secure future. I’ve been doing this work for years, and I’m ready to take that fight to City Hall.
How do you think your city can best balance the rights of tenants and property owners to effectively manage rental housing?
I believe our city must strike a fair and accountable balance between protecting tenants’ rights and supporting responsible property owners. Both are essential to creating stable, safe, and thriving neighborhoods. Tenants deserve safe, well-maintained, and affordable housing. That starts with stronger rental inspections, better enforcement of housing codes, and clear pathways for tenants to report issues without fear of retaliation. I support increasing funding for city housing inspectors and ensuring culturally responsive tenant education, so renters know their rights and how to advocate for themselves. At the same time, I understand that many property owners—especially small, local landlords—face real challenges in maintaining their properties. The city should offer support through grants or low-interest loans for repairs, as well as clear communication and resources to help them comply with regulations. Our housing system works best when tenants feel secure and owners feel supported—not when one side is punished at the expense of the other. We need policies that prevent displacement, promote accountability, and encourage collaboration between renters, landlords, and the city. That’s the kind of balanced, community-driven approach I will champion on the City Council.
What are your views on property tax rates in your community? Do you have concerns related to your city’s property tax rate? If so, how would you address those concerns once elected?
I understand that rising property taxes are a real concern for both homeowners and renters in our community. For many, especially seniors and working families, these increases make it harder to stay in the neighborhoods they’ve called home for years. I believe we need greater transparency around how tax dollars are used and more accountability to ensure that spending reflects community priorities. If elected, I would advocate for a more equitable approach to property taxes—one that doesn’t disproportionately burden low- and moderate-income residents. I support exploring alternative revenue sources, reassessing city spending, and prioritizing essential services like housing, safety, and infrastructure. I also believe in providing targeted relief or assistance for those most impacted by tax increases, especially in historically underinvested areas like Ward 5. We need smart, people-first budgeting that balances the city’s needs without pricing out our residents. We can also better balance the tax burden by attracting more for-profit business in the ward to cycle the dollar in the community.
Please provide links to all social media accounts connected to you or your campaign.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pearll-tinitha-warren-57817522/ ; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570059832209; https://www.instagram.com/tinithapearllwarrenforward5/?igsh=MTlrY3cwOWV1aHdjcA%3D%3D#
Please list any notable endorsements for your campaign.
North Central States Carpenters Union, Minneapolis Fire Fighters Local 82, WE love Mpls, All of Minneapolis, Public Policy Project, Don Samuels, a host of PAC’s
