Eric Grumdahl left his role with us as Deputy Director in August, and we have been so fortunate to have the incredible leadership of Elizabeth Dressel in that role since then as our Acting Deputy Director. We are happy to announce that, very soon, Elizabeth will go back to having one full-time job instead of two, as we bring on a new Deputy. Please join us in welcoming Mary Riegert-Soyring who will be starting in this role on Monday, November 14.
Many of you are likely familiar with Mary as she has been a leader in this movement for many years in Minnesota. She brings decades of experience to this position. Mary has over seventeen years of experience in Tribal government, including Assistant Director of Human Services for White Earth and founding Chair of the Minnesota Tribal Collaborative (MTC) to End Homelessness. Most recently, she has been serving as the coordinator of the MTC.
If you know Mary, you have witnessed her passion and persistence to improve the lives of all Minnesotans. We are excited and honored to have her joining our team to work for housing, health, and racial justice for people facing homelessness in all parts of our state.
Federal SNAP policy restricts some adults to three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period unless they can meet work requirements. These are adults without children and who are presumed to not be disabled. (The label used in SNAP policy is Able-Bodied Adult without Dependents). People subject to SNAP time limits are limited to 3 full months of SNAP eligibility in a 36-month period when not:
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Meeting an exemption
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Living in a waived area
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Fulfilling the time-limited work requirements
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Receiving Banked Months
Time limit requirements have been paused during COVID to provide support that is critical to an individual's health. During the public health emergency, Minnesotans did not receive information about the time limit work requirements and were not limited to 3 out of 36 months if they were not meeting the work requirement. Minnesota is planning for the potential return of the SNAP time limits statewide in March 2023. Timing for the return of SNAP time limits is dependent on the expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is committed to improving communication and outcomes for homeless individuals who may be subject to the time limit. The DHS team will share an update and discuss opportunities for better outcomes. Ahead of the webinar discussion, so questions to consider:
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What are some additional unique barriers to employment that homeless individuals face?
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How can we better communicate with homeless populations in advance of the return of time limits?
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How can we better support homeless individuals in verifying disabilities and other conditions that are a barrier to employment?
If you have any questions about your registration, please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us.
If you did not get the Child Tax Credit or stimulus payment benefits, it's not too late! Apply by November 15, 2022 with a simple form in 15 minutes or less. Go to www.getctc.org/mn to sign up. You can apply even if you normally don’t file taxes and even if you got advance Child Tax Credit payments in 2021. You do not need to have a job or income to claim this credit. This money does not count as household income for most benefits, like SNAP, WIC, MFIP, Medicaid/Medical Assistance, SSI, and most types of public and subsidized housing.
The Community Vaccination Team at MDH has a new system for requesting COVID-19 vaccination events. Using the this survey, facilities can request free COVID-19 vaccination events, with the option to add flu and shingles vaccines.
MDH has recently updated guidance for Monkeypox in congregate settings. This resource was developed as a guide for congregate living facilities to plan and respond to monkeypox (MPX) infection among residents, staff, or volunteers. Monkeypox (MPX) is a viral infection that can spread through prolonged skin to skin contact with a person who has MPX, or their contaminated personal items (e.g., clothing, towels, bed sheets). As of October 20, 2022 there have been 227 confirmed cases of MPX reported in Minnesota. Check out the new guidance here.
Cases among people experiencing homelessness and the staff who support continues to remain low this week. 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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Help support the people you work with in exercising their right to vote. Early voting has begun in Minnesota and Election Day is on Tuesday, November 8. Minnesota allows voters to register on Election Day, so anyone who has not registered yet can still register and vote on Election Day. You can register with location of where you sleep as your address including a shelter, a friend or family member’s house, or outside. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office Election Day Registration FAQ outlines the options for registering on election day. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office has information on options for people facing homelessness in this flyer and online. Please call the Secretary of State’s voter hotline – 1-800-600-8683 with any specific questions or concerns. Visit the Minnesota Office of Secretary of State Office website to find more information specific to people experiencing homelessness, locate your polling place, and view your sample ballot.
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Help us spread the word about a new newsletter for engagement opportunities for people who have faced or are currently facing homelessness. The Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness is building a new newsletter list to share opportunities for people who have faced or are currently facing homelessness to share their input, ideas, and expertise. Interested individuals can sign up for the newsletter by filling out this form. We will share a range of opportunities in this newsletter from state agencies and partner organizations and the newsletter will be sent out as opportunities are available. Please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us if you have any questions.
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