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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Hennepin County is currently taking applications for the emergency rent assistance until March 19. This emergency help is open to Hennepin County households with unpaid rent and very low incomes. This assistance can help pay for rent an utility bills.
Additionally, this week the board received recommendations for new strategies to address our region’s intersecting crisis of homelessness and lack of affordable housing. This is just the beginning of an important public conversation on this topic. My statement below.
A few more updates you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:
🚇 Bottineau Line: This week we released revised route options for the Blue Line Extension that will connect communities from downtown Minneapolis northwest to Brooklyn Park.
💉 Hennepin County COVID-19 Vaccine Registration: Hennepin County Public Health is offering COVID-19 vaccine clinics to Hennepin County residents. You can register and be contacted if an appointment becomes available and you are eligible.
ℹ️ County Service Relocated: Some county services have temporarily relocated from the Hennepin County Government Center in preparation for the trial of Derek Chauvin.
✍🏻 PLUS: My statement on Hennepin’s role in the Derek Chauvin trial, Public Works’ summer road construction map, expanded vaccine eligibility, and more!
As always, my office is here to serve and we look forward to hearing from you.
In service,
Chris
This week Hennepin County administration and staff shared recommendations on future homelessness and affordable housing strategies that are a bold step in the right direction. Among the recommendations was expanding the use of Hennepin County’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) levy for subsidies to help lower rents in county-funded capital projects and exploring bonding as a funding source for increased affordable housing investments in 1,500 new single room occupancy units. Watch the full briefing here.
This is the beginning of a what will be a long conversation on how to better support our most vulnerable residents and improve the prosperity of the region. We invite your perspectives on this topic and look forward to hearing from you.
If you live in Hennepin County and have unpaid rent, you may qualify for emergency financial assistance for rent and utility bills.
This initial round of funding is targeted to meet urgent needs of high need households. The deadline to apply is March 19. More assistance will be available to even more households through a statewide Emergency Rent Assistance program expected to launch later this month.
Provide input on modified route options for the Blue Line Extension
Project partners have released revised route options for the Blue Line Extension that will connect communities from downtown Minneapolis northwest to Brooklyn Park. These routes represent the best apparent options based on community input, technical considerations, and past project work. They are not final, however, and project partners hope to continue a conversation with community and project stakeholders with the goal of identifying a single community-supported route by the end of 2021 to advance through engineering and environmental review.
Learn more about the routes and provide input at BlueLineExt.org
Connect with the project on Facebook and Twitter.
Hennepin County Public Health is offering COVID-19 vaccine clinics to Hennepin County residents to protect the health of our community. To be offered an appointment at one of the vaccine clinics, you must first register in our system.
Completing this survey does not automatically guarantee you a vaccine appointment. However, it registers you in the system and you will be contacted if an appointment becomes available and you meet the current criteria for vaccination based on current guidelines.
Learn more, here.
Since Monday, March 1, some county services have temporarily relocated from the Hennepin County Government Center in preparation for the trial of Derek Chauvin. Hennepin County’s role in the trial is to ensure that the Fourth Judicial District Court can conduct business in a safe and effective manner.
Access to the Government Center will be restricted to the operations of District Court for the duration of the trial. The Government Center Parking Ramp will also be closed to the public. Confirm current service hours and locations at hennepin.us as Google location pages may not be up to date.
Services temporarily relocating
Domestic Abuse Service Center
On March 1, the provisional remote services access room in the Government Center—LL0720—will close. To access remote services, including advocacy, orders for protection, and safety planning, call 612-348-5073.
Law library
Beginning March 1, curbside pickup will be suspended, book drop will be unavailable (no late fees will accrue), and all due dates will be extended. Law library staff will continue to be available by phone (612-348-2903) and email (law.library@hennepin.us). Visit hclawlib.org for details.
Licenses, certificates and permits
View service options. Services are available online, by mail, by fax and in person at other locations. Appointments may be booked out far in advance. Avoid the wait by using online service options when possible.
Plats
View service options. Beginning March 2, plat signing will relocate from the Government Center.
Probation
Beginning March 1, many probation services in the Government Center will relocate. Probation clients: contact your probation officer before any appointments scheduled at the Government Center. If you do not have your probation officer's contact information, email POConnect@hennepin.us. If your probation officer directs you to the Government Center, allow for extra time due to increased security measures and limited parking.
Property taxes
View service options. Make it easy and convenient by using online payment methods. Conventional payment methods are also available.
Sheriff’s Office
To access Sheriff’s Office services in City Hall, use the entrance on 4th Street.
Even though winter is not officially behind us, residents will see crews working on various county roads starting this month.
To help folks get a clearer picture of major construction projects and activities that will be happening throughout the year, Hennepin County has developed an online map that allows you to zero in on projects in each district. Learn more here: https://arcg.is/vCSKj
David Chanen, Star Tribune
The county is considering asking the Legislature to approve a countywide sales tax to pay the debt for new affordable housing.
This would be the first time county officials have considered selling bonds to pay for affordable housing.
"If Hennepin County can bond for stadiums, we can and should consider bonds for affordable housing," said Commissioner Chris LaTondresse, referencing the county's decision in 2006 to borrow $350 million for the new Twins stadium.
Access the full story, here.
By Kristen Miller, Sun Sailor
The first commission meeting is planned for May. Potential topics include citizen recognition for sustainable practices, solar energy ordinance update, energy action plan initiatives and ambassador opportunities.
Access the full story, here.
Who can get the vaccine now and who is next in line? Find out here and also get answers to frequently asked questions about the path to vaccinate all Minnesotans.
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
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Chris LaTondresse
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Jessica Oaxaca
District Director
612-348-6885
Kyle Olson
Policy Director
612-348-3168
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