This month, in the Heading Home Hennepin Monthly Newsletter:
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Five projects funded through the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)
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The Task Force on Shelter wants to hear from you
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Coordinated Entry Assessments can be completed by Hennepin County's Streets to Housing Program
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Heading Home Corps looking to recruit nearly 60 members
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NFHA is seeking applications for its Inclusive Communities Fund Grant Program by October 14, 2022
Five projects funded through the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)
In 2021, Hennepin County was selected to participate in the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). The program is a federal initiative to support selected communities as they develop and implement a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness.
The following projects were selected through facilitated community process. In this process projects that aligned with the shared vision, adhered to the guiding principles, and were eligible for YHDP funds were prioritized by the Core Team and approval by the YAB.
YHDP Projects:
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Connections to Independence (C2i) - Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Voucher Supportive Services
- C2i will serve 25 Foster Youth to Independence voucher recipients in applying for and obtaining the voucher and engage them in wrap-around supportive services designed specifically by former fosters for foster youth.
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Oasis for Youth - Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Voucher Supportive Services
- Oasis will serve 25 youth and young adults, ages 18-24, who have foster care experience and are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness to obtain FYI housing choice vouchers and support them on their path to self-sufficiency and holistic wellbeing.
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Hennepin County - Youth and Young Adult Navigation Services
- Hennepin County will expand the Homeless to Housing team by hiring 4 Connection and Housing Navigators to serve youth and young adults
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Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) - HMIS support and training to youth projects
- ICA will hire a full-time position to support and train homeless youth service providers to use the HMIS and data in a more collective, system-wide manner.
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The Link - Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
- The funding will expand the Link's Cairn Housing Program. The program, which was co-founded by the Power of Youth Advisory Committee, provides scattered site housing for youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who are experiencing homelessness and have a disability.
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The Link - Rapid Rehousing (RRH)
- The Project Live Out Loud (PLOL) program, which was designed by the PLOL Youth Advisory committee to help youth quickly exit homelessness and transition into stable housing, will be expanded using the funding from YHDP. The program offers traditional RRH services through a culturally specific lens for LGBTQ+ youth as well as additional support services for this population.
View: Hennepin County Coordinated Community Plan to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness (PDF)
The Task Force on Shelter wants to hear from you!
In 2021, the Minnesota legislature created a Task Force on Shelter. The legislature asked the group to develop standards for shelters and to explore state oversight of shelters.
The Task Force has drafted shelter standards and is working on recommendations about shelter oversight. Members need your feedback to finish their work.
What needs to be reviewed
The Task Force has drafted 12 categories of standards for shelters in Minnesota. “Standards” means rules and guidelines for how shelters should work. The general idea is that all shelters in Minnesota should have to follow a common list of standards, so everyone using shelter has a good, safe experience.
You can review the draft standards in two languages:
Draft standards in English
Draft standards in Spanish
The Task Force is also hoping to hear your thoughts on shelter oversight. “Oversight of shelter” means that someone makes sure shelters are the kind of place where people feel safe and welcome. There are many ways to “oversee” shelters, and the Task Force wants to hear your thoughts.
Share feedback
The Task Force is taking feedback through Friday, September 23. Please consider sharing your own thoughts with the Task Force by going to Task Force On Shelter | Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness (mn.gov).
Coordinated Entry Assessments can be completed by Hennepin County's Streets to Housing Program for people living outside
Single Adults that are sleeping outside, in vehicles, or living in encampments can now request a Coordinated Entry Assessment to be completed by Hennepin County's Street to Housing Program. To request an assessment:
Additional information on how to access a coordinated entry assessment can be found at www.hennepin.us/coordinated-entry.
Heading Home Corps looking to recruit nearly 60 members
Heading Home Corps is a statewide AmeriCorps program in Minnesota. Heading Home Corps focuses on supporting people who are experiencing homelessness by navigating resources and connecting people with additional supports in order to help them secure safe and stable housing. Serving as an AmeriCorps member in the Heading Home Corps program is a great way for individuals to give of their time, talent and passion to strengthen their community while also gaining valuable skills and experience along the way.
Heading Home Corps is currently looking to recruit nearly 60 members to begin service in October 2022, and we are looking to spread the word as quickly as possible. You can learn more about the member service opportunities with Heading Home Corps by reviewing the resources below:
Heading Home Corps is accepting member applications until October 5, 2022. For additional questions about service with Heading Home Corps, please contact Recruiter, Avery Hoogenakker, at avery.hoogenakker@ampact.us
NFHA is seeking applications for its Inclusive Communities Fund Grant Program by October 14, 2022
The Inclusive Communities Fund is seeking local partners in 16 metropolitan areas to provide direct services to families and communities. Grants will be provided to our local partners to undertake activities that support Black and Latino communities to access housing (with an emphasis on homeownership) and that support more inclusive, vibrant and healthy neighborhoods. These funds were made available as part of a historic settlement that provided $35.390 million for community relief.
Join a webinar on September 27, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET to learn more about the opportunity and to ask questions about the grant program and application. Register here.
The Heading Home Hennepin monthly newsletter aims to be a resource for the community of individuals that work to increase housing stability for residents of Hennepin County. Share feedback here.
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