This newsletter shares opportunities for people who are facing or have faced homelessness to share their input, ideas, and expertise. We will share a range of opportunities in this newsletter from state agencies and partner organizations. Newsletters will be sent out as new engagement opportunities are available.
Help us spread the word about this newsletter. If you know of other individuals who have faced homelessness and would be interested in learning about opportunities to share their perspective, they can sign up for this newsletter by filling out this form. Please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us if you have any questions.
Last week, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor rolled out their One Minnesota Budget. Their interagency budget for housing stability represents the biggest investment in housing and homelessness in state history. At over $1.6 billion, this package addresses the continuum of housing needs from preventing and ending homelessness, to creating a healthy rental market for low-income renters, to closing the disparities in homeownership. This package includes proposals from nine state agencies and is focused on increasing the amount and affordability of housing, as well as making sure housing is accessible to everyone. It is focused on preventing homelessness whenever possible and providing the kinds of services and supports people need to find and keep their housing. The full One Minnesota Budget can be found at: https://mn.gov/mmb/budget/current-budget/governors-budget-recommendations/.
Join the webinar tomorrow Wednesday, February 1 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm to walk through the housing stability package in detail. If you cannot attend the webinar, all materials and recordings are shared here: https://mich.mn.gov/webinars. If you have any questions about your webinar registration, please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us.
Minnesota Housing is looking for feedback on how to allocate approximately $31 million of one-time HOME American Rescue Plan (HOME ARP) funds. HOME ARP funds are intended to assist individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing (or attempting to flee) domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or where providing supportive services or assistance would prevent homelessness or would serve those with the greatest risk of housing instability. Eligible uses of HOME ARP funding include the production or preservation of affordable housing, tenant-based rental assistance, supportive services, homeless prevention services, and housing counseling as well as the purchase and development of non-congregate shelter. Learn more about HOME ARP funding at https://www.mnhousing.gov/sites/multifamily/home-arp.
Minnesota Housing is hosting a public hearing on HOME American Rescue Plan Funding on February 1 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. The public hearing will provide background on the HOME ARP award and its potential uses and allow an opportunity for public comment.
People who experience homelessness in Minnesota die at much higher rates than the general population, according to a new report produced through a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI). That alarming pattern holds true regardless of age, gender or race.
The Minnesota Homeless Mortality Report 2017-2021 summarizes data from the first systematic look at mortality among people experiencing homelessness who die in Minnesota. The Health, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Lab at HHRI merged Minnesota Homeless Management Information System data on people who used homeless services from 2017 to 2021 with Minnesota state death data and Minnesota population data from 2017 to 2020 from the U.S. Census to compare sociodemographic differences and causes of death. The report and its recommendations can be found at Center of Excellence on Public Health and Homelessness. Key findings included:
- The rate of death was three times higher for those experiencing homelessness than the general population;
- Twenty-year-olds experiencing homelessness had the same death rate as 50-year-olds in the general population;
- Mortality across each racial and ethnic group was higher for those experiencing homelessness than in the general Minnesota population; and
- American Indian people experiencing homelessness had rates of death one-and-a-half times higher than others experiencing homelessness and five times higher than the general population.
We will be shifting the March monthly webinar up one week to Wednesday, February 22 from 1:00- 2:00 pm. This webinar will include a presentation on Long COVID, updates on changes to COVID Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits known as Emergency SNAP, or E-SNAP. There will be no webinar on Wednesday, March 1.
This webinar schedule change will also shift the webinar Speakers Bureau up one week to February 22 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. There is a monthly prep session held the Tuesday before the webinar. The prep session will be Tuesday, February 21 from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Follow this link to join the prep session. This is an ongoing opportunity that happens each month. Sign up is required. Please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us or call/text Elizabeth at 651-248-5548 to sign up to speak or with any questions.
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The Office of Justice Programs is seeking applicants for a Housing Specialist position that is responsible for activities that improve outcomes for domestic and sexual violence victims experiencing housing instability, fleeing domestic violence, or are homeless as a result of domestic or sexual violence in their lives. This position coordinates on statewide efforts aimed at reducing homelessness for families and children experiencing violence, and educates on the specific challenges faced by this population. To see the full posting and to apply, go to Minnesota Careers Website click on “Search open positions” and search for Job ID 62336. This job posting will be open until February 14. 2023.
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If you are interested in learning more about how the legislative process in Minnesota works, you can view the special webinar we held on January 18 here. The special webinar provided an introduction and overview on the state legislative process and information on navigating the legislature website, tracking bills, and finding hearing information.
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