Poverty Law I: Housing and Government Benefits Law - Fall 2025

Thursdays 9:05 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. in Mondale Hall 5

Professors Larry McDonough and Brianna (Breezy) Boone

Week

Date

First Half

Second Half

1

9/4

Introduction to Poverty Law

Overview of Class and Materials

Understanding Poverty

Professor McDonough and Professor Boone

The Law of Government Benefits, Measuring Poverty, and Getting Benefits

Professor Boone


Optional Listening: Busted America's Poverty Myths, On the Media, Episodes 1 & 2


In Class: Combined Application Exercise

2

9/11

What Does a Government Benefits Attorney Actually Do?

Professor Boone


In Class: Combined Manual Scavenger Hunt


Combined Manual


Optional Listening:

Busted America's Poverty Myths, On the Media:, Episodes 3 & 4

Cash Programs for Individuals with Disabilities (SSI and Social Security)

Professor Boone


Social Security Act: 42 U.S.C. §§ 1381-1383f


SSI Regulations: 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.101 – 2227


Required Reading:

National Public Radio, These Disabled People Tried to Play by the Rules. It Cost Them Their Federal Benefits, June 8, 2024


In Class: SSI Exercise and Hypotheticals

3

9/18

Food Programs (SNAP)

Professor Boone


7 C.F.R. §§ 271.1 - 274.8


Required Reading:

A Quick Guide to SNAP Eligibility and Benefits, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, September 30, 2024


In Class: SNAP Exercise and Hypotheticals


Cash Programs for Single Adults (GA and MSA)

Professor Boone


Minn. Stat. Ch. 256D


Required Reading:

Minnesota Supplemental Aid, Law Help MN


In Class: GA and MSA Exercise and Hypotheticals


4

9/25

Cash Programs from Families with Children (MFIP)

Professor Boone


Minn. Stat. Ch. 256J

Minn. Stat. Ch. 256P


Required Reading:

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Legislative History, Congressional Research Services, Version 27, April 2, 2024


In Class: MFIP Household Hypotheticals; 5-Year Exercise and Hypotheticals


Cash Programs from Families with Children (MFIP)

Professor Boone


Continued


5

10/2

Medical Benefits (MA, MinnesotaCare, and Home and Community Based Services)

Professor Boone


Minn. Stat. Ch. 256B


Minn. Stat. Ch. 256L


Required Reading:

MA Waiver Programs, Disability Hub

Medical Benefits (MA, MinnesotaCare, and Home and Community Based Services)

Professor Boone


In Class: Medical Assistance Exercise and Hypotheticals.



6

10/9

Emergency Cash and Food Assistance (EA, EGA, and Expedited SNAP)

Professor Boone


Required Reading:

Emergency General Assistance, Law Help MN


Expedited SNAP, Law Help MN

Other Government Benefits Programs: Child Care Assistance and Housing Support


Minn. Stat. Ch. CHAPTER 119B


Minn. Stat. Ch. 256I




6 ½

10/10

REMOTE


Disability Accommodations

Professor Boone

REMOTE


Current Issues in Government Benefits


Research Problem #1 Handed Out


7

10/16

NO CLASS

NO CLASS

7 ½

10/17

NO CLASS


Research Problem # 1 Due at 9:05 a.m. via email to Professor Boone 


NO CLASS

7

10/23

Housing Introduction

Professor McDonough


Tenants' Rights in Minnesota, Minnesota Legal Services Coalition


Housing: 2023, 2024 AND 2025 Legislation


Get Ready for 2024 - Landlord and Tenant Law Is Changing!


2024 Legislative Session Recap


Small Changes in Minnesota Landlord and Tenant Law for 2026 (Some in 2025)

8

10/30

Housing: Eviction Overview

Professor McDonough


McDonough, Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota, Chapters I - V and Answer Form A1

Skim reading


Housing: Eviction Service Defenses

Professor McDonough


McDonough, Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota, Chapter VI, §§ A-C and Answer Form A1


Read service defenses of Answer Form A1


Skim Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota § VI.C table of contents and text for more information.


In Class: Interview and Advise Hypothetical Tenant


9

11/6

Housing: Eviction Precondition Defenses

Professor McDonough


McDonough, Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota Chapter VI, § D and Answer Form A1


Read precondition defenses of Answer Form A1


Skim Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota § VI.D table of contents and text for more information (except public and subsidized housing).


In Class: Interview and Advise Hypothetical Tenant


Housing: Eviction Rent Defenses

Professor McDonough


McDonough, Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota, Chapter VI, § E and Answer Form A1


Read rent defenses of Answer Form A1


Skim Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota § VI.E table of contents and text for more information (except public and subsidized housing).


In Class: Interview and Advise Hypothetical Tenant

10

11/13

Housing: Eviction Notice Defenses

Professor McDonough


McDonough, Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota, Chapter VI, § F and Answer Form A1


Read notice defenses of Answer Form A1


Skim Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota § VI.F table of contents and text for more information (except public and subsidized housing).


In Class: Interview and Advise Hypothetical Tenant


Housing: Eviction Breach Defenses

Professor McDonough


McDonough, Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota, Chapter VI, § G and Answer Form A1


Read breach defenses of Answer Form A1


Skim Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota § VI.G table of contents and text for more information (except public and subsidized housing)


In Class: Interview and Advise Hypothetical Tenant


11

11/20

Housing: Eviction Relief, Post Trial Issues and Settlement

Professor McDonough


McDonough, Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota, Chapter I §R., Chapters VII - IX


Read relief in Answer Form A1


Skim Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota Chapters VII - IX table of contents and text for more information.


In Class: Interview and Advise Hypothetical Tenant

Housing: Security Deposits

Professor McDonough


McDonough, Security Deposits in Minnesota


Housing: Other Landlord and Tenant Actions


Read the forms for emergency tenant remedies actions, rent escrow actions, and tenant remedies actions and skim Chapter XII §§ B.0-3 table of contents and text for more information.


Habitability Website


McDonough, Residential Eviction Defense and Tenant Claims in Minnesota, Chapter XII.B


In Class: Interview and Advise Hypothetical Tenant


Research Problem #2 Handed Out


13

11/27


Thanksgiving (No Class)


13 ½

11/28

NO CLASS


Research Problem # 2 Due at 9:05 a.m. via email to Professor McDonough


NO CLASS

14

12/4

Readability/Plain English Lecture

Professor Boone


Complete surveys and provide class feedback


Professor McDonough and Professor Boone