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Topics and Issues for Providers Serving People Experiencing Homelessness
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November 16, 2021
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The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) has Federal Fiscal Recovery Funds available to support rapid responses to outbreaks in shelters and other temporary congregate settings for people experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. OEO will be working closely with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to allocate available funding for targeted, immediate outbreak response activities to support an effective response and reduce the health impacts for shelter guests and staff.
Funding is currently available to situations that meet these three qualifications:
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New expanded definition of congregate shelter - Operating a congregate shelter or temporary congregate setting that serves people experiencing homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and/or human trafficking with one or more of the following characteristics: shared bedrooms/sleeping areas, bathrooms, or dining areas, and
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Three or more cases of confirmed COVID-19 associated with a setting during their exposure or infectious period, and
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The applicant for funds is a nonprofit, local unit of government, or Tribal Nation.
If you meet these thresholds, the survey to request funding can be found on the Heading Home Alliance website. Entities can request funding back to the allocation date of September 15, 2021. Our team will continue evaluate these funds and make changes as needed. The Heading Home Alliance site also has a list of frequently asked questions and answers and more detail on the buckets of allowable expenses to request funding for. If you have additional questions, please email Andrea Simonett.
$15 million in Fiscal Recovery Funds and $2 million in emergency shelter grants appropriated by the legislature during the 2021 1st Special Session will be available for shelter settings to improve their ability to prevent transmission of infectious diseases through modifications or by acquiring new space. These funds will be administered by OEO through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process that will be published at the end of November or early December. The projects must be complete and funds must be fully spent by June 30, 2023. Non-profit organizations, Tribal governments, and local units of government will be eligible to apply for funding through the RFP.
Projects must be emergency homeless shelter capital projects connected to mitigation measures intended to reduce infectious disease transmission. Proposed eligible activities include:
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Acquisition: Gaining ownership or control of real property (real estate) for the purpose of providing emergency shelter services.
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Renovation: Improve the condition of, complete repairs, configure interior space to meet public health needs, and/or repurpose existing space for emergency shelter services.
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Planning and Design: Expenses for consultation and technical assistance from the project proposal through completion are eligible.
Last week the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless held an informational webinar on these funds that included a presentation by OEO staff and a architecture firm. Please email Matt@mnhomelesscoalition.org if you would like to request a recording of the webinar. Our team will continue to share details on RFP process as they are available.
The Minnesota Department of Health’s guidance has been updated! It’s now formatted as a toolkit and goes through the steps you should take when learning of a COVID-19 case who works at, lives in, or visits your homeless service settings. As a reminder, please notify Health.R-Congregate@state.mn.us and/or your local public health department of any COVID-19 situations.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has launched MNbenefits a new, easy-to-use online application for nine public assistance programs. Applicants can apply simultaneously for all nine programs that include: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Emergency Assistance, Housing Support, Child Care Assistance, Diversionary Work Program, General Assistance, Minnesota Family Investment Program, Minnesota Supplemental Aid and Refugee Cash Assistance. DHS Commissioner Harpstead said, “The last thing Minnesotans facing life’s challenges need is a cumbersome, bureaucratic process to navigate. MNbenefits will help people in need get the important services they are eligible for more quickly.”
The mobile-friendly application works across all browsers, computers, laptops and phones and is available in Spanish, with more languages to come. It’s easy to upload documents, and no account login is necessary, which is a common barrier to access. The new interface also creates efficiencies for DHS, county and tribal nation staff, boosting capacity to provide more timely service and a better client experience. Read the full announcement from DHS here.
The next webinar Speakers Bureau will be on Wednesday, December 1 at 1:00 p.m. There is still space to sign up to speak. Help us spread the word about this opportunity with the people you work with. Anyone who has lived experience of homelessness is welcome to sign-up to share through the Speakers Bureau. This will be open time each month for lived experience experts to share ideas and feedback with the webinar audience. All the details can be found on this flyer.
There is a monthly optional prep session held the Tuesday before the webinar. The December prep session will be Tuesday, November 30 from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Follow this link to join the optional prep session.
Please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us or call Elizabeth at 651-248-5548 with any questions or to sign up to join the Speakers Bureau. This will be an ongoing opportunity each month. Anyone is welcome to sign up for future months as well.
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Minnesota Housing launched a new website on the HOME-ARP funding. Minnesota Housing anticipates receiving approximately $31 million in HOME-ARP funding. HUD Issued Notice CPD-21-10 establishing a required planning, engagement and analysis process that must be completed and approved by HUD before HOME-ARP funds are made available. Minnesota Housing will begin the planning process to determine program design elements including, but not limited to, activities that will be allowed under the program, eligible recipients and how and when funds will be made available. There will be opportunities for all interested stakeholders to provide input, respond to survey questions and help shape Minnesota Housing’s HOME-ARP program design. To receive updates about Minnesota Housing’s HOME-ARP funds, sign up for the HOME-ARP eNews list. As updates are available, Minnesota Housing will also continue to update their webpage with relevant information.
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Reminder to Join the Weekly Provider Webinar Wednesday, November 17, 2021, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Our team will provide updates and be available to answer your questions. If you have not registered for the webinar, you can do so by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about your registration, please email Elizabeth Dressel.
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To help ensure you receive Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness eNews, please add MNInteragencyCouncilHomelessness@public.govdelivery.com to your safe senders list, address book or contact list.
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