Heading Home Corps is a new AmeriCorps program to help make safe and stable housing possible for more Minnesotans. Heading Home Corps places AmeriCorps members, called Housing Resource Navigators, at organizations dedicated to improving the well-being of people experiencing homelessness. Housing Resource Navigators help participants find housing or support related to housing. The program is in its first year and has members working at 50 sites throughout Minnesota.
ServeMinnesota, the organization who operates the AmeriCorps program in Minnesota, wants the Heading Home Corps program to be a career pathway into the field and support organizations who help people experiencing homelessness. Members of the ServeMinnesota team will join the webinar tomorrow, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., to share an update on the program and efforts they are exploring around career pathways for members. They want to hear your ideas on how they can best support moving Resource Navigators into careers in the housing stability field and support staffing needs in your setting. Please consider the following discussion questions ahead of the webinar tomorrow:
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What training and supports should we provide to help prepare Resource Navigators for careers in the field?
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What, if any, industry-recognized credentials would help in this sector?
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For what specific positions at your organization would Housing Resource Navigators be qualified/attractive candidates?
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How do you currently recruit candidates for open positions at your organization?
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How can we help connect Resource Navigators to employment opportunities in organizations in the field post service?
Join the discussion on the weekly webinar tomorrow, June 8, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. If you have any questions about your registration, please email Elizabeth Dressel.
The Frontline Worker Pay application will be open June 8 through July 22, 2022. Eligible workers will have 45 days to apply for Frontline Worker Pay. Applicant support will be available to assist applicants in multiple languages.
You don't have to be first in line when the application opens. The application will be open for 45 days and the funds are not first come, first served. The money set aside for this program will be split equally among all approved applicants after the 45-day application period, the 15-day appeals period and the appeals review period.
The Frontline Worker Pay law requires that employers in a frontline sector provide notice by June 23, 2022, advising all current workers who may be eligible for Frontline Worker Pay of the assistance potentially available to them and how to apply for benefits. An employer notice that meets this obligation is available now in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish.
The Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness is a cabinet-level body led by Lt. Governor Flanagan and is comprised of the commissioners of 13 state agencies and the chair of the Metropolitan Council. It is accountable for leading the state’s efforts to move towards housing, health, and racial justice for people experiencing homelessness.
The Council is holding their next meeting virtually this Friday, June 10, 2022 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. The agenda includes a presentation and discussion with Rainbow Research and their hired consultants on the first phase of work focused on developing a definition of housing, racial, and health justice for people experiencing homelessness. Thank you to all of you who participated in the Justice work groups and Community Conversations to build the draft definitions that the Council will discuss! These meetings are open to the public. Register for a link to watch the meeting online.
Rainbow Research and their team of hired consultants with lived experience of homelessness invite you to join the final Justice Work Group meeting next Friday, June 17 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.! During the conversation Rainbow and the MCH team will share an update from the Council meeting discussion and next steps in the process.
All are welcome to join! Please help us spread the word about this opportunity to shape the justice definitions for people experiencing homelessness! You can find all of the meeting details and past meeting materials for both the Justice Work Groups and Community Conversations here: https://mich.mn.gov/justice-strategic-plan#phase-one. If you have any questions, please contact Iván Lopez at ilopez@rainbowresearch.org
Minnesota Housing’s 2024-2025 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and Self-Scoring Worksheet are available for review. The 2024-2025 QAP sets the overall funding priorities for the 2023 and 2024 Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP) and all 2024 and 2025 Housing Tax Credit (HTC) funding rounds. The formal comment period for the QAP is open through 5:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. You can review all the materials at: https://www.mnhousing.gov/sites/multifamily/taxcredits/qap.
There are several engagement opportunities to learn more about the proposed changes:
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Thursday, June 9 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. - Minnesota Housing discussion. Register here to join the webinar discussion.
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Tuesday, June 14 from 2:00 – 4: 00 p.m. - Minnesota Housing Partnership and Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers co-sponsored discussion with Minnesota Housing. Register here for the zoom link.
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Tuesday, June 28 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. – Minnesota Housing Public Hearing. Register here for a link to join. Registration is recommended but not required. If you plan to speak at the hearing, email htc.mhfa@state.mn.us for planning purposes.
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Written comments must be submitted by the public comment deadline of 5:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Email comments to htc.mhfa@state.mn.us or send by mail to: Minnesota Housing, Attn: Tamara Wilson, 400 Wabasha Street North, Suite 400, St. Paul, MN, 55102.
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If you would like to comment by phone, call Kelly Winter at 651.297.5142.
Cases among people experiencing homelessness and the staff who support them have remained steady for the past few weeks. The MDH team continues to monitor cases and our team continues to plan alongside local public health and emergency management on ways to be best prepared to support people experiencing homelessness through any future surges. If you are looking for any information or resources you can find information at https://mich.mn.gov/covid-19 or email Health.R-Congregate@state.mn.us.
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is announcing its first-ever behavioral health Recovery Innovation Challenge. The goal of this challenge is to identify innovations developed by peer-run or community-based organizations, and entities that may partner with them—such as local or state governments, health systems, hospitals, or health plans—that advance recovery. Peer-run or community-based organizations must be the primary participant. Any peer-run or community-based organization can participate including peer-run and community-based tribal organizations. Learn more and apply for the Recovery Innovation Challenge here. Applications are due Friday, July 15.
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The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) announced funding for local health departments and other government agencies support preparing for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Emergencies Among People Experiencing Homelessness. With support from the CDC, NACCHO will support approximately five jurisdictions in adapting and exercising their emergency preparedness plans to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness during WASH emergencies. Applicants may apply for funding awards of up to $42,000. Learn more about the funding and how to apply here. Applications are due by Friday, July 1.
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