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The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is committed to ensuring that eligible Minnesotans retain their public coverage when renewal processes resume and that ineligible Minnesotans connect with other coverage options. The goal is for zero eligible enrollees to lose coverage. With this goal in mind, a range of resources and updates to DHS services have been introduced to support the renewal process.
Minnesotans with Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare can now look up the month they can expect their health insurance renewal forms to arrive in the mail. Renewals for Medical Assistance enrollees will take place based on the anniversary month of an individual’s application for coverage. People can look up their renewal month at https://www.mnrenewallookup.com/. To use the lookup, people must enter the case number printed on their notices or premium bills and the member number listed on their Minnesota Health Care Program card. If a person doesn’t know their case or member number, they can call their county or tribe.
Minnesota is also extending the deadline to renew Medical Assistance for 35,500 people whose renewal paperwork is overdue for July 1 coverage. DHS is taking advantage of an option offered by the federal government to extend the July 1 deadline to Aug. 1. The change will apply to the first group of families and children renewing their Medical Assistance since the pandemic. The extra month will let the department and its partners find and connect with people in that group who haven’t responded yet. DHS urges all enrollees with a July renewal date to still submit their renewal paperwork with this extension as soon as possible. Any delays put them at risk for coverage gaps. People already determined ineligible for Medical Assistance will still lose coverage July 1.
Learn more about when your renewal paperwork is due, update your contact information, get answers to frequently asked questions and more by visiting https://mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage/.
Join the webinar tomorrow, July 12, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm to hear an update on the renewal process including resources community outreach and shelter staff can use to engage people in the renewals process. 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.
On June 26, 2023, the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) at the Department of Human Services (DHS) published a Request for Proposals for Grantees to Acquire, Plan and Design, Construct and/or Renovate Emergency Homeless Shelters for youth, single adults, and/or families experiencing homelessness. Approximately ninety-eight million dollars ($98,000,000) is available in grants as outlined in session Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 70, article 11, section 14 and Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 70, article 20, section 2, subdivision 24(f). The RFP document outlines eligible activities including planning and design, acquisition, renovation, construction, and contingency funding for emergency shelter facilities. Projects selected for Emergency Shelter Facilities funds need to be completed and operational by June 30, 2028. Applications are due September 21, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Central Time.
Questions on this RFP can be sent to Katelyn.warburton@state.mn.us. A responders’ conference will be held virtually on Thursday, July 27, 2023, from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. You do not need to register for the responders' conference, you can join at the start time using the link below, or by phone by dialing 1-415-655-0003 and using access code 2492 852 1131. The details for the Responders' Conference can be found on page 9 of the RFP document.
Heading Home Corps has received a state appropriation to support programming statewide. These additional funds will allow Ampact to eliminate the Housing Resource Navigator site fee for the 2023-24 program year! The hope is that this will help allow additional sites to come on as partners with Heading Home Corps. Heading Home Corps is continuing to accept new site applications and any interested organization can apply by completing the Heading Home Corps Application Site . You can also contact Mishon Bulson, Senior Manager with Heading Home Corps mishon.bulson@ampact.us with any questions and she will be happy to reach out to them.
In addition to host sites, Heading Home Corps is currently recruiting members for the 2023-24 program year, and has start dates available in August, October or January. Heading Home Corps places a Housing Resource Navigator (AmeriCorps member) at a service site to support individuals experiencing homelessness - navigating resources and supports to secure safe and stable housing. The position works to establish a relationship with each individual on their caseload and will work with that individual to assess their unique needs, set goals, and sit side-by-side to help navigate resources to overcome barriers and ultimately achieve their goals.
Navigators will serve one term of service in full-time or part-time capacity (40, 35 or 25 hours per week). Full-time members (40 hours/week) receive a stipend of $1,100 every two weeks, a scholarship called an Education Award of up to $6,495, and access to health insurance and childcare reimbursement at no cost to the AmeriCorps member. View the position description to learn more. If you are interested in serving as a member, submit an application by August 9, 2023 for a start date on August 28, by October 4, 2023 for a start date of October 23, and by December 13, 2023 for a start date of January 25, 2024.
NASTAD has released a new Harm Reduction and Housing Video Series, with the accompanying infographic, Applying Harm Reduction in Housing Settings. This video series explores the complexities related to harm reduction within supportive housing and temporary shelter programs. Video topics include, “Preventing Overdose Fatalities in Permanent Supportive Housing,” “Housing and Harm Reduction for Alcohol Use,” “Harm Reduction in Housing for People with Severe Mental Illness,” “Harm Reduction in Temporary Shelter Settings,” and “Tips for Doing This at Your Own Site.” This resource was developed through the CDC-funded National Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Center in collaboration with Facente Consulting.
The Harm Reduction and Housing Video Series is intended to be used by health departments, harm reduction programs, housing providers, temporary shelter providers, and other community-based organizations that are interested in providing housing services or partnering with housing programs in their community.
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The Twin Cities Transition Coalition is co-hosting an in-person event with 180 Degrees at Great River Landing on Friday, August 11 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. The event will be set up as a resource fair style event and is focused on Hennepin County community service providers that serve individuals who are justice system involved. Check out this flyer for more event details.
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At the end of May, the Governor signed an interagency budget for housing stability that is biggest investment in housing and homelessness in state history! At over $2.6 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. You can review all the specific investments and funding amounts in the One Minnesota Housing Stability Summary. The summary document has been updated to include all of the funding from the metro-wide sales tax for the new Local Affordable Housing Aid program.
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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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