Group's goal is to cap annual rent increases at 3 percent. Written By: Frederick Melo / St. Paul Pioneer Press | 2:44 pm, Apr. 25, 2021 × ST. PAUL — A coalition of neighborhood and housing advocacy groups are collecting signatures to get a St. Paul city charter amendment on the November ballot. Their goal? Rent control. The HENS coalition — short for Housing Equity Now St. Paul — needs at least 5,000 signatures by July 1 in order to put a “rent stabilization” ballot question to voters. Their goal is to cap annual rent increases at 3 percent. If approved, landlords, on an individual basis, would be able to request exceptions based on the right to a reasonable return on investment considering seven factors, such as major property tax hikes or significant building improvements.