The Governor has signed an interagency budget for housing stability that is biggest investment in housing and homelessness in state history! At over $2.1 billion dollars across the next four years, it will have transformative impacts on 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. The investments focus on increasing the amount and affordability of housing and shelter, 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. You can review all the specific investments and funding amounts in the budget summary.
Thank you for your partnership to get to this moment! The work we did together this session will have an incredible impact on how we support people who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Take a look at this video from the One Minnesota Budget signing the Governor and Lieutenant Governor held last week.
Join us for the Monthly Webinar tomorrow, June 7, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. to learn more about the specific investments that passed this legislative session. If you have any questions about your webinar registration, please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us. If you cannot attend the webinar, all materials and recordings are shared here: https://mich.mn.gov/webinars.
The Department of Human Services' (DHS) Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) has had funding available to support rapid responses to COVID-19 in overnight or day shelters, drop-in centers, and street outreach programs for people facing homelessness or domestic violence.
Funding is available for expenses on or before June 30, 2023 and can be used to support wages for staff who must isolate or quarantine due to COVID exposure, hiring temporary emergency staff due to staffing shortages caused by COVID, hazard pay, operating costs for quarantine and/or isolation space, and other needs. The funds began in December 2021 and expire June 30, 2023. Beginning July 1, 2023, the funding will no longer be available.
To cover eligible expenses incurred through June, 30, 2023, the survey will remain open until July 14. All requests for eligible expenses through June 30, 2023 must be submitted, via the survey, on or before the end of day on July 14, 2023 in order to be considered for funding. Any request received on or after July 15, 2023 cannot be considered for funding.
Learn more about eligible uses and how eligible settings can apply at https://mich.mn.gov/shelter-outbreak-funds. Please contact Demetri Vincze at demetri.vincze@state.mn.us with any questions.
The SNAP time-limited work rules return in July. The Department will communicate with SNAP recipients who have to follow the SNAP time-limited work rules beginning in June.
The Department of Human Services team has developed the SNAP Time Limits Communication Toolkit. Please use the toolkit to help spread awareness of this important change. The toolkit includes: flyers, newsletter/email copy, text copy, social media graphics, webpage frequently asked questions and tools to notify counties and Tribes of exemptions. The toolkit can be edited as you see fit to best highlight the services and support you can provide. The materials in the toolkit are available in various languages. You can download toolkit here. The toolkit is a .zip file. Learn more about .zip files here.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has received federal funding to support COVID-19 response in shelters that must be spent by July 2024. The money must be spent on allowable activities as defined by the grant. However, rather than MDH determining how best to spend the funds, we want to hold a couple focus groups with shelter providers to hear from those of you who are most impacted by this funding opportunity how you think the funds should be spent to benefit your facility, staff, and clients.
We would like to hold the focus groups in late June. The discussions will be 90 minutes long and we are specifically interested in hearing from people who:
- Are involved in day-to-day shelter operations at their facility in resident facing positions
- Worked in a shelter facility for at least one year during pandemic
- Have a good understanding of needs and capacity of the organization
If you meet these criteria and are interested in participating, please complete this brief form with your contact information and availability: Let MDH know how to spend COVID-19 funds to benefit your shelter.
Please contact the MDH Highly Impacted Settings Team at Health.R-congregate@state.mn.us if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
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 on Friday, June 9 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The agenda includes an overview of the work to develop the justice plan and a discussion with the commissioners and justice consultants with lived expertise about the second phase of work focused on developing results and strategies to achieve housing, racial, and health justice for people facing homelessness. You can learn more about the justice strategic planning work here. These meetings are open to the public and we would love for you to join. Register for a link to watch the meeting online.
HomeHelpMN funds are going fast – apply now before the program runs out of funds! The program is almost fully subscribed. The program will be moving to a waitlist next week. Applications on the waitlist will be prioritized by risk of housing displacement and submitted date and time if funds are available. If your application is submitted before the waitlist, it will be reviewed subject to available funding.
You are encouraged to apply now if you are a homeowner who has past-due expenses for your mortgage, contract for deed, manufactured home loan, property taxes, homeowners' insurance, homeowner association fees, lot rent or Tribal land lease.
APPLY NOW at HomeHelpMN.org or call 800.388.3226. If you have questions about HomeHelpMN, call 800.388.3226. HomeHelpMN Live Chat and Call Center are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central time). Interpretation services are available.
HomeHelpMN is a federally funded, temporary emergency program to support homeowners experiencing hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number HAF0011, awarded to Minnesota Housing by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- Minnesota Housing prepared a HOME American Rescue Plan (ARP) Draft Allocation Plan based on feedback from meetings with community members, an online survey and a public hearing. The Draft Allocation Plan describes how HOME ARP funds will be distributed, including how the funds will address the needs of qualifying populations. You can review the Draft Allocation Plan and send Minnesota Housing written comments. Written comments must be received by Friday, June 9, at 5 p.m. Central time. You can email HOME-ARP@state.mn.us and include “HOME ARP Draft Allocation Plan” in the subject line or mail it to Minnesota Housing -HOME ARP Draft Allocation Plan, 400 Wabasha St. N., Suite 400 St. Paul, MN 55102. To learn more about HOME ARP, visit the Home ARP webpage or contact Rachel Ganani at 651.297.3120.
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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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