Last week, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward, their supplemental budget recommendation. Their proposal includes over $1 billion of investments in improving access to affordable housing and supporting people facing housing crises over the next three years. The Housing Stability proposal includes investments into 35 budget line items including 19 new investments that span a range of housing needs from stabilizing naturally occurring affordable housing, preventing evictions and homelessness, providing additional rental assistance, and shoring up Minnesota's response to homelessness and providing shelter. Read the full summary of the Housing Stability package here.
The Legislature has reconvened and will consider the Governor and Lt. Governor’s supplemental budget and bonding proposals. The proposals will require legislative action to become law and have the resources allocated. This budget, if adopted, would significantly advance our collective work to prevent and end homelessness in Minnesota.
Last week, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released Shelter-in-place Guidance to be used during COVID-19 surges in homeless shelters and other congregate living facilities. During the COVID-19 2021-2022 winter surge in Minnesota, shelter staffing, health care staff, testing supplies, therapeutics and off-site isolation space are limited resources. Many shelters and congregate living facilities have had to pivot to onsite isolation for COVID-19 positive clients. The primary goals of this guidance are to ensure continuity of operations for shelters and to maintain client’s connection with health care to limit severe disease and death from COVID-19 or other causes when resources are strained.
The Minnesota Shelter Emergency Staffing Pool is a short-term initiative designed in response to the acute COVID-19 related staffing challenges at shelters and other temporary congregate settings for people experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. This emergency staffing pool is a partnership between ServeMinnesota and Worldwide Travel Staffing. This is a free resource and does not require eligible settings to cover any of the costs of the temporary staff. If you are a temporary, congregate settings that requires people to be experiencing homelessness to access the program and are experiencing staffing impacts from a COVID-19 outbreak you are eligible to apply. This can include homeless shelters, shelters for domestic violence survivors, and board and lodge settings. This resource is focused specifically on COVID-19 related staff shortages and is not intended to supplement normal shelter operations.
Eligible settings can fill out the application for emergency staffing support online. If you have questions about the application or process, please send an email to Naomi Zuk-Fisher, ServeMN consultant and Minnesota Shelter Emergency Staffing Pool lead.
Worldwide Travel Staffing continues to build a pool of eligible staff to fill these temporary shifts. Anyone interested in joining the Minnesota Shelter Emergency Staffing pool can learn more about the opportunity and sign up here.
The American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC) has received funding from the Office of Economic Opportunity to continue its COVID-19 vaccination incentives and education for people experiencing homelessness. Organizations can apply to use these funds for a variety of activities including cash incentives, gift cards, raffles, food, the production of marketing and educational materials, and covering staff time related to COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Applicants should show how they will use these funds to directly support getting shots into arms. The funds can be used for first shots, second shots, or boosters and they can be combined with other vaccine incentives from other funding sources.
Organizations can apply for these funds through this online survey. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis while funds are available. Funding decisions will be made within 2-weeks of proposal submission. All funds must be expended by June 30th, 2023. If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Josh Leopold (josh.leopold.c19@state.mn.us) or Mike Goze (mgoze@aicdc-mn.org).
The State of Minnesota has launched ‘Kids Deserve a Shot,’ a vaccine incentives program encouraging Minnesotans 5-11 years old to roll up their sleeves and get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Minnesota families who get their child 5-11 years old fully vaccinated in January and February can get a $200 Visa gift card. Parents/guardians can register their 5 –11-year-old once they have completed their two-dose series. You can register for the gift card here.
To access these rewards, you will need to provide an address where you can currently receive mail. This does not have to be a permanent mailing address. Be sure to provide the same information (name, etc.) that you provided when you were vaccinated to ensure they can find your information in the vaccination database. You can register online or call the Minnesota Department of Health Public Hotline (open Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sat 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and can be reached at 1-833-431-2053) and Hotline staff will complete the form for you.
Later this spring, there will be drawings for five $100,000 Minnesota college scholarships for all Minnesotans 5-11 years old who are fully vaccinated. All Minnesotans 5-11 years old who completed their first and second doses at any point up to the registration deadline will be eligible to be entered for a chance to win a $100,000 college scholarship. Details on the drawings will be announced in the coming months.
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Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Behavioral Health Division is seeking to provide supportive services for people with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who are homeless or exiting institutions who have complex needs and face high barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing. Services provided will assist people to transition to and sustain Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) which meets the PSH Evidence-Based Practice fidelity standards. Proposals must also address one or more of the behavioral health priorities of program linkage, peer services, veterans, and equity. Find the RFP materials and additional information on DHS’ open grants and RFP website. Proposals are due on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. CT.
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Minnesota Housing is seeking proposals from providers for up to $9 million to award Housing Stability Services funding through the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program established by the American Rescue Plan of 2021. The Housing Stability Services funds may be used for two specific activities: eviction prevention services and housing navigation services. Direct assistance such as rent, utilities, or other housing related payments are not eligible expenses. Application materials are due on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) CT. For application materials and more information on eligible entities and how to apply, visit Minnesota Housing’s website. Please email Michelle Doyal at mhfa.hss@state.mn.us, with any questions.
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Applications are being accepted for an open vacancy on the Task Force on Shelter through the Secretary of State’s open appointments site. Apply online for the open position of a representative from an organization that advocates on behalf of persons with disabilities. You can find out more about the Task Force’s work to date here.
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Shelter Outbreak Response Fund (FRF-Shelter) from the DHS Office of Economic Opportunity continue to be available to support rapid responses to outbreaks in shelters and other temporary congregate settings for people experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. The survey to request funding can be found on the Heading Home Alliance website. Answers to frequently asked questions and additional information can be found on the funding page.
- Join the weekly provider webinar tomorrow from 1:00-2:00 p.m. to hear from the webinar speakers bureau, get updates from the state team and ask any questions you may have. If you have any questions about your registration, please email Elizabeth Dressel.
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