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Dear neighbors,
On January 7, a mother, observer to ICE immigration enforcement, and local Minneapolis resident was shot and killed by federal law enforcement agents in the Central Neighborhood of Minneapolis. It takes place during one of the largest increases in immigration enforcement in our nation's history, and it is happening right here in the heart of Hennepin County.
Daily, the people our district and the entire county are being targeted and terrorized, and community members are doing what they can to hold this abuse of power accountable, by observing, communicating, and by keeping their neighborhoods safe. Our friends, family, and colleagues are standing on the front-line because we all see this is really about — a cruel, cynical, abuse of federal power targeting Minnesota and immigrant populations — and it isn't making us safer. This has been made abundantly apparent Renee Good's death. We support our observers and peaceful protestors.
We stand with our immigrant neighbors whose families are being torn apart. We cannot let this terror divide us or let these federal tactics scare us into complacency. We also need to stay calm to ensure that we maintain public safety and protect our communities. We cannot give federal law enforcement reason to increase their occupation, chaos, and perpetuate more harms.
This Tuesday, the Hennepin County Administration, Operations, and Budget Committee unanimously passed a resolution condemning ICE and calling for the removal of ICE personnel and assets from Minnesota.
We do not take this action lightly. It comes about in the context of an additional 1,000 ICE agents due to arrive in the metro area during the largest deployment of Department of Homeland Security resources in our nation's history — anywhere.
Unanimous passage of this resolution by the Hennepin County Board shows just how strongly we, and our constituencies, feel about these current events, and how serious we are taking a stand to protect the residents of Hennepin County.
I stand with our grieving, hurting communities as we navigate this tragic moment, and my thoughts and prayers are with the family of Rene Nicole Good.
In partnership
Commissioner Debbie Goettel, Vice Chair to the Hennepin County Board
What's happening at Hennepin County, and across the district:
Make sure to follow me on X! @HennepinDebbie
Too many Hennepin County residents don’t have the resources to feed their families. There are many places to access free food in Hennepin County. Our food resource map shows food shelves, food box programs, and free meal sites.
For help finding food and other resources, you can view the Hennepin County food resource map or call the Hennepin County resource helpline:
- 612-348-3000
- 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Monday - Friday (multiple languages are available)
Additional assistance available
Programs like SNAP and WIC can help, too.
WIC is a nutrition and breastfeeding program that serves pregnant people, new mothers, babies and children up to age 5. In addition to nutrition education and breastfeeding counseling, WIC provides nutritious foods. Learn more at https://www.hennepin.us/wic.
Both programs are accepting applications.
2025 held many challenges. Yet despite the often -fierce headwinds, we were not only able to move the needle on affordable housing production and preservation, Hennepin County made a bigger impact than ever before. Here’s a snapshot of our impact on housing development in 2025:
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We awarded $15 million to create or preserve nearly 1,300 rental units, with 41% deeply affordable at <30% AMI.
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Under the Supportive Housing Strategy, we opened 124 deeply affordable units just this year, the most units we've ever opened in one year. Supportive Housing Strategy units are tailored and reserved for the county priority populations, which makes them both the most valuable and the hardest to get off the ground. Also exciting, another 113 Supportive Housing Strategy units are currently under construction.
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Hennepin County operates a program making home health and safety repairs, including accessibility and aging in place projects, raising awareness about possible exposures to lead in our homes and testing for lead.
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This year, our home repair team completed 286 home projects, which included new windows, paint, flooring, accessibility ramps, safety bars, radon tests, roofing, siding, and bathroom accessibility projects that make homes safer and healthier.
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We invested $2.7 million to create 60 affordable homeownership opportunities—through new builds, rehabbed homes, and down payment assistance.
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In only one year, we launched and fully disbursed our Repair + Grow program to help affordable housing owners recover from the pandemic and get back into developing new housing. This work represents intense partnership, creativity, critical financial modeling, and hustle, which will demonstrate benefits for years to come.
PIT Count - Wednesday, January 28
The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a nationwide annual count of all people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The 2026 PIT will collect data of who was experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County the night of Wednesday, January 28.
Volunteer information
We are seeking a few additional volunteers to assist with observation surveys for the PIT Count. As a volunteer, you will:
- Canvass designated areas to observe and record if anyone is experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
- Work in teams of two, with at least one participant age 18 or older.
- Have access to a vehicle for transportation
Shifts occur from 11:00 p.m. on January 28 to 1:00 a.m. on January 29.
If you are interested in volunteering, sign up using Hennepin County 2026 Unsheltered PIT Count volunteer sign-up sheet.
Training requirement:
All volunteers must attend training on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. or make arrangements to view the training recording. Contact PIT.HIC@hennepin.us for training details.
January is Human Trafficking and Exploitation Awareness Month in Minnesota.
Uplift, support and empower survivors and their families at Walk to End the Silence at the Mall of America. The event will also educate the community on how to identify and prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Walk to End the Silence Thursday, January 22, 2026 7 to 9:30 a.m. Mall of America® -- Huntington® Bank Rotunda 60 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425
Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants Program Fall 2025 grant cycle awarded $1,301,924 in grants for Play Areas, Sports Equipment, Arts & Music, and Lifeguard Services.
Projects awarded include the following in our district:
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Eden Prairie Public Schools: $10,000 to replace six courts of volleyball standards at Eden Prairie High School
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Three Rivers Park District: $10,000 to purchase equipment and adaptive equipment to expand access to SkiSparks club rental program
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Three Rivers Park District: $10,000 to purchase water safety gear to introduce new communities to water safety education, water-based experiences, and swimming lessons
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City of Bloomington: $25,000 to host Indigenous Arts Workshops to expand cultural understanding and engagement
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City of Richfield: $50,000 to expand youth lifeguard recruitment by offering free certification and recertification classes, covering equipment costs, and providing incentive bonuses
Hennepin County Library has released a limited-edition Prince library card celebrating one of Minnesota’s most iconic artists. The card is available at all library locations while supplies last. Choose the Prince design when signing up for a new library card or when replacing your existing card! Details at https://www.hclib.org/prince.
Library cards are free, yet one of the most valuable cards you can carry. Discover millions of books and audiobooks, research tools, creative spaces, and services that support learning for you and your family at every stage of life.
Join Bloomington Parks and Recreation along with community partners this winter as we embrace the season during the 22nd Annual Winter Fete celebration. See below for a list of activities taking place beginning in December 2025, and check back often as new events and other details may be added.
Winter Fete activities are free unless otherwise noted, and fun for the whole family!
Learn more here!
Adults 18+
– All skill levels
– Fridays, 6-8 p.m. through Feb. 13 (weather dependent)
– Free!
Bundle up and join us for this weekly open pick-up game of broomball at Miller Park’s outdoor ice rink. Bring your own equipment (helmet, stick, elbow pads and shin pads highly recommended), but we’ll also have a limited supply of sticks and balls available to check out for free at the park.
Advanced sign-ups are requested, but drop-ins are welcome too.
Learn more and sign up:
edenprairiemn.gov/Broomball
Weather-related closures posted at edenprairiemn.gov/Updates.
You don’t have to leave your neighborhood to explore nature! Join a Refuge Ranger to investigate what our animal neighbors do to survive the winter. Activities will be both indoors and outside and are geared toward elementary-aged students, but all are welcome. We will finish the program with a take-home project. Materials provided; children must be accompanied by an adult. Free.
Learn more here!
Discover all the free resources your library offers—from books and digital titles to homework help, community programs, and tech training.
Check the library’s events page to register and see what’s coming up next!
Current and upcoming lane and ramp closures on I-494
2025 Transportation Activities Webmap
Check out what’s happening across the county or zoom into your district to see what’s happening closer to you. To learn more about each project, just click on the line or dot on the map.
Transportation Capital Projects Webmap
Other resources:
Metropolitan Council weekly construction update
MnDOT- Metro Area State highway and bridge projects
Whether it's a housing crisis, energy assistance question, or child protection concern, we are here to help you navigate these and other issues.
Please call our office at 612-348-7885 or contact us to seek assistance or ask a question.
Contact
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
Hennepin County District 5
Bloomington | Eden Prairie | Richfield | SW Minneapolis
612-348-7885
Graham Faulkner
Policy Director
612-596-7078
Kate Nelson
District Director
612-348-7885
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