Yesterday, Cathy ten Broeke joined Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke, Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho, Vietnam Veteran Dan Abrego, and Central Continuum of Care (CoC) Coordinator Tim Poland, to celebrate with the 13 counties in central Minnesota for effectively ending Veteran homelessness in their region. Congratulations to all the partners who have made this accomplishment possible! The Central Minnesota CoC includes Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, and Wright Counties.
Ending Veteran homelessness does not mean that another Veteran will never experience homelessness in the Central Minnesota CoC. Instead, it means that the community has a homeless response system that prevents a Veteran from becoming homeless whenever possible, and any homeless experience is rare, brief, and one-time.
Seven of Minnesota’s ten Continuums of Care (84 of 87 counties) have now hit this milestone.
The National Foundation for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC Foundation) has selected the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to create a Center of Excellence on Public Health and Homelessness. The Center will support work to better understand and address infectious disease and mortality among people experiencing homelessness and serve as a resource hub and model for other public health departments. Over the next year, the Center will support MDH’s efforts to:
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Study the causes of infectious disease and premature death among people experiencing homelessness.
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Build a coalition of people currently experiencing homelessness and those who have previously experienced homelessness, homeless service providers, healthcare providers, academic partners, and local public health agencies to inform and carry-out strategies to minimize infectious diseases and premature death among people experiencing homelessness.
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Strengthen statewide efforts to better link housing and healthcare in identifying and responding to health risks caused or worsened by homelessness.
This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen and enhance the connections that were established during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate next steps are to identify the top three infectious disease needs across the state and to establish partnerships with organizations.
If you have questions about the Center or would be interested in having your organization participate, please contact Josh Leopold.
As we move indoors during these colder months and the holidays approach, we want to send a reminder to be cautious and use all the tools available to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in congregate settings. This includes masking, staying 6 feet away from others, increasing ventilation, decreasing density (the number of individuals in a space), and good hand hygiene. According to the Mayo Clinic's COVID-19 dashboard, the state's 14-day positivity rate is up to 9.8%, the highest it has been in 2021. Last Thursday, November 4, MDH reported the most COVID-19 hospitalizations since December 23, 2020 at 1,021. This high positivity rate indicates that community transmission is still high and it’s not a good time to relax any restrictions.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the CDC director have approved the Pfizer EUA (emergency use authorization) for children ages 5-11. Now over 28 million children in the U.S. can be vaccinated against COVID-19. The distribution of the vaccine is available at full capacity this week at pharmacies, clinics, and community vaccine sites. According to a CDC analysis, the number of children and adolescents admitted to the hospital increased nearly five-fold over the summer months amid the Delta surge. This approval is such an important moment in our fight to end this pandemic and protect the community. The dosage will be one third of what is administered for adults and children 12 and over. The lower dose was chosen because it has a prompt immune response, while minimizing side effects. More information can be found from the CDC here.
The Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless (MCH) invites you to join a virtual Shelter Capital Information Session today, November 10, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.. The goal of the event is to ensure anyone that is considering a project that includes funding needs for capital costs can get information to better prepare themselves to submit a proposal through the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO).
OEO will introduce eligibility and application information for $17 million in resources for acquisition and renovation of emergency homeless shelters. OEO staff will provide an overview of eligible applicants, projects, and activities; review the funding timeline; and provide information about the application process. These resources will be distributed via a competitive RFP process and must be utilized before June 30, 2023. The RFP is expected to be shared in December 2021. Additionally, DLR architecture firm will have architects available to answer questions. MCH will also share a resource list of other architects and designers.
Heading Home Corps is a new AmeriCorps program that harnesses the power of AmeriCorps to help make safe and stable housing possible for more Minnesotans. AmeriCorps members, serving as Housing Resource Navigators, will spend the year providing customized one-to-one support and resource navigation to help people achieve their housing goals.
The Heading Home Corps is accepting applications for people to serve as Housing Resource Navigators. The program is especially seeking candidates with diverse experiences including those with lived experience of homelessness.
As AmeriCorps members, Housing Resource Navigators will serve 40 hours a week, January 2022 through August 2022. Navigators receive:
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A stipend of $1,100 every two weeks – comparable to $15 per hour
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Individual health insurance (monthly premium 100% paid)
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Up to an additional $4,441.50 for tuition or qualifying student loans
Candidates need to apply by December 15, to begin serving in January. Help us spread the word about this opportunity! To learn more or apply, please visit www.servetogrow.org/headinghome.
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Docket is an app to help Minnesotans easily access their immunization records through their smartphones or other mobile devices. Docket enables residents with a Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) record to securely view and share their immunization records. Learn more about finding your immunization record through Docket here.
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Join a conversation with your peers next Tuesday, November 16 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.. The peer to peer conversations are an opportunity for providers to ask questions to peers, hear what their peers are doing, and support one another. The conversation topics are open and guided by those who join. You can join the Teams meeting on your computer or mobile device, or for audio only call, 651-395-7448 and enter conference ID 979281139. You do not need to register.
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Reminder to Join the Weekly Provider Webinar today from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Our team will provide updates and be available to answer your questions. If you have any questions about your registration, please email Elizabeth Dressel.
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