State agencies have been working hard to implement the increased investments into existing programs and launching new programs that were signed into law last legislative session with the historic $2.6 billion housing stability budget. On the January Monthly Webinar, the Department of Human Services’ Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) shared highlights on the combined Request for Proposal (RFP) which includes Emergency Services Program (ESP), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), Transitional Housing Program (THP), and Homeless Youth Act (HYA), Shelter Linked Mental Health RFP, and the Emergency Shelter Facilities capital funding RFP. OEO allocated $100.5 million in the combined RFP for Fiscal Year (FY) 24-25 an increase from $35 million in the previous combined RFP from FY 22-23. In total, they received $285 million in requests from 163 eligible applicants and funding a total of 135 applicants through the combined RFP. A few highlights across the programs include:
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Emergency Services Program: The increased funding supported 74 new programs including 12 culturally specific organizations providing outreach, drop-in centers, shelters, motel voucher programs. There was a 125 percent increase to the average award which will support increased access to services and staff wages and retention.
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Transitional Housing Program: The increased funding supported 44 entities across the state with an average grant of $274,000 biennium. This included enhanced services at existing programs and new programs that target Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, individuals with co-occurring risks for homelessness and HIV, and individuals fleeing domestic violence.
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Homeless Youth Act: The increased funding supported 48 entities including seven new programs with an average grant of $852,500 per biennium. This included funding for host home providers, new programs, and expanded programs to double the number of youth served in scattered site transitional housing and rapid re-rehousing programs.
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Safe Harbor Shelter and Housing: The increased funding supported 16 entities operating outreach, shelter, and housing programs to youth experiencing sexual exploitation with an increase in the average grant award from $417,000 to $709,000. There will be an increase from 133 beds to 186 beds, expanded geographic reach with a new program in rural communities in northeast Minnesota, and expanded training through StreetWorks collaborative.
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Shelter Linked Mental Health: The increased funding supported nine providers across the state to provide connections to community mental health providers, culturally specific services, and non-traditional therapeutic activities, increase staff training on mental health, and fill insurance coverage gaps in service.
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Homeless Youth Cash Stipend Pilot: This new pilot program awarded $5.4 million to provide direct cash stipends to 135 youth in Hennepin and St. Louis counties. The program is being administered by Youthprise.
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Emergency Shelter Facilities Capital Funding: This new program awarded approximately $100 million to acquire, renovate, plan and design, construct, and/or renovate emergency homeless shelters. Over 100 projects submitted proposals totaling $365 million, highlighting the great need for capital funding. The funding is anticipated to support an additional 373 shelter beds and the preservation of 376 beds in greater Minnesota and an additional 218 shelter beds and preservation of 348 beds in the metro. These totals are subject to change as the staff works to finalize budget and workplans with grantees. Once all the contracts are in place, the list of funded entities will be made publicly available.
To find more details on these programs, you can view the slides and recording of the presentation at https://mich.mn.gov/webinars under the January 10, 2024 webinar. Thank you to each of you for the work you do implement these new, expanded, and existing programs across the state to support people at risk or facing homelessness.
Over the coming webinars, we will continue to highlight updates on the implementation of the budget. Join us for the next Monthly Webinar on Wednesday, February 7 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. to hear from Minnesota Housing staff on the implementation of their increased funding. If you have any questions about your webinar registration, please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us.
As a reminder, the opening 15 minutes of the webinar will be reserved for the Speakers Bureau. Anyone who has lived experience of homelessness is welcome to sign-up to share through the Speakers Bureau. 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.
Minnesota Housing has announced the availability of up to $27.5M in Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) funding to provide supportive services and direct financial assistance to help households who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness to retain their housing or obtain housing. Funding is contingent on legislative approval, program appropriations and returned program funding. The amount of available funding may increase or decrease.
Eligible applicants include Tribal Nations, Twin Cities metropolitan area: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties, or a community-based nonprofit organization, and Non-metropolitan areas (Greater Minnesota): A county, a group of contiguous counties jointly acting together or a community-based nonprofit organization. Multi-organization collaboration is welcome provided the lead applicant is one of the eligible grantees. The minimum service area is a county, and the maximum service area is statewide.
Applications are due Thursday, February 22, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. Central time. For application materials and more information, visit Minnesota Housing’s FHPAP webpage.
The Minnesota Community Collaboration on Viral Hepatitis ECHO is a webinar series focused on infectious disease prevention, testing, and treatment among people who inject drugs and other at-risk populations. This program will emphasize Hepatitis C elimination in Minnesota by facilitating collaboration and knowledge-sharing between specialists in viral hepatitis and community partners, such as community health centers, syringe services programs, drug treatment centers and homeless shelters. On Tuesday, February 6 at 12:05 p.m., Amy Gordon and Casey Holmstrom from Hennepin Healthcare for the Homeless will present on Hepatitis C Treatment for Those Who Are Unhoused. There will also be upcoming sessions on providing Hepatitis C treatment within supportive housing and The Values and Philosophy of Street Medicine in Action. To learn more and register visit: https://iecho.org/public/program/PRGM1701287528455I4TXUUAVGN. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Brooklyn Petrich, brooklyn.petrich@state.mn.us.
Moving expenses are set to become a covered service under Housing Stabilization Services on April 1, 2024. Moving Expenses are for people receiving Housing Stabilization-Transition services and are transitioning out of a Medicaid funded institution or leaving a provider-operated living arrangement and moving into their own home. Providers should attend to gain a better understanding of Moving Expenses that will help lead to a smooth implementation process. Webinars will be held on the following dates and times and all will have the same content:
- Feb. 5, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. - noon. Go to the Housing Stabilization Services – Moving Expenses Overview, Feb. 5, 2024, webpage to register.
- Feb. 22, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. - noon. Go to the Housing Stabilization Services - Moving Expenses Overview, Feb. 22, 2024, webpage to register.
- March 13, 2024, from 1 - 3:30 p.m. Go to the Housing Stabilization Services - Moving Expenses Overview, March 13, 2024, webpage to register.
Last week, the Sahan Journal published an article by Katelyn Vue highlighting the process to develop Crossroads to Justice: Minnesota’s New Pathways to Housing, Racial, and Health Justice for People Facing Homelessness. Check out the article at: https://sahanjournal.com/housing/minnesota-homeless-response-rollout-racial-justice/. If you would like to learn more about Crossroads to Justice visit: https://mich.mn.gov/crossroads-justice-strategic-plan.
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