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 February Monthly Webinar, Minnesota Housing shared highlights on the implementation of the $1.3 billion they were allocated.
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In December 2023, the Minnesota Housing Board of Directors made selections for consolidated request for proposal (RFP) of over $275 million in state appropriated resources. The consolidated RFP includes multiple development program funds including Housing Infrastructure bonds and cash proceeds, the Challenge Program, PARIF which supports the preservation of federally assisted multifamily projects, Workforce Homeownership, and Manufactured Housing Redevelopment/Infrastructure. State resources are paired with federal resources like tax credits and local funding. In total, this is the largest investment and will support the creation or preservation of 5,000 multifamily and homeownership units. Learn more about these selections at https://www.mnhousing.gov/requests-for-proposals/project-selections.html.
- Minnesota Housing has been able to approve awards quickly through existing programs that received increased investments, such as Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, Bridges Rental Assistance, Housing Trust Fund Rental Assistance, Homework Starts with Home, Homeownership Education and Counseling, Homeownership Capacity Grants, Rental Rehab Loans, and the new Stable Housing Organization Relief Program (SHORP).
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Minnesota Housing continues to hire staff and work to develop the 17 new programs created last legislative session, which is more than double the previous number of programs Minnesota Housing operated.
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There are several open funding opportunities and programs that will be launched in the coming months. Learn more at https://www.mnhousing.gov/requests-for-proposals.html.
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 February 7, 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.
We have shifted the March webinar up one week. Join us for the next Monthly Webinar on Wednesday, February 28 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Please note there will be no webinar on March 6. 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. Check out the Speakers Bureau flyer to learn more and help us spread the word about this opportunity!
Naloxone is a potentially lifesaving drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. It can be administered as an injection or nasal spray. Nasal naloxone is also referred to by its brand name, Narcan®. The 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session mandated and made funding available for the provision of free naloxone for groups in the state, including but not limited to, schools and law enforcement. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) partnered to pilot an online ordering portal for naloxone in September 2023. Shelter providers and other organizations that serve the unhoused can now use the portal to order nasal Narcan® at no-cost to their organization. This program currently has funding through March 14, 2024. Please place orders before this date. Continued funding is expected, but there may be a brief pause on orders after this date.
To order Naloxone at No-Cost complete the following steps.
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Go to the following page to sign up for a standing Naloxone order: Naloxone Standing Order and Protocol Registration Form.
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Under “Entity Type” select “Organization Serving Unhoused Populations.”
- Provide a shipping address for delivery during regular business hours. The product is shipped via 2-day FedEx. PO Boxes are not a valid shipping address.
- Enter contact information in the event of shipping complications.
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Under Number 13, indicate “Yes” to be reviewed and approved for access to the Naloxone Ordering Portal.
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Complete the rest of the fields and click “Submit.”
All orders are subject to review by MDH staff and may require additional information before approval. Upon approval, Narcan Direct will begin the order fulfillment process. After orders are approved, you will receive a confirmation email summarizing your order. This is not a bill. The State of Minnesota is providing this naloxone at no cost to your organization. Shipping and tracking information will be available via email from Narcan Direct. If you have questions about your shipment, contact Narcan Direct at 844-462-7226 or narcandirect@ebsi.com.
The Minnesota Department of Health is offering free vaccination clinics for shelters, day centers, supportive housing programs and other congregate settings for people experiencing homelessness. If you are interested in scheduling a clinic, you can submit a request here. Organizations have a choice of scheduling a one-time or ongoing clinic. All MDH supported vaccination clinics include COVID-19 vaccinations. Organizations can also request to have influenza vaccine as well as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine available for eligible children. Organizations can also request harm reduction resources, such as naloxone for reversing opioid overdoses, condoms, and safer use supplies. While supplies last, MDH can also offer $25 or $100 Visa gift cards for people getting a COVID-19 vaccination.
Minnesota Housing is seeking application reviewers for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) second round of Request for Proposals for the 2024-2025 biennium. If you are part of an organization/agency that does not intend on applying for this grant opportunity and it is within the context of your role (similar services/assistance provided or populations served) to review, please consider signing up to be a reviewer. Minnesota Housing is in the process of creating a program to compensate community members for reviewing funding applications, but unfortunately are not able to pay reviewers at this time. Training will be provided to all reviewers and reviewers are asked to read and score 3-5 applications from February 27-March 12. Reach out to Erin Menne at erin.menne@state.mn.us by February 20 with questions or sign up to be a reviewer.
The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) will host a webinar about its new Recuperative Care program this Thursday, February 15, 2024, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. All providers, especially those interested in offering recuperative care services, are welcomed to attend. Recuperative care providers support people experiencing homelessness to prevent hospitalization or provide medical care and support services when they are unable to recover from a physical illness when living in a shelter or are otherwise unhoused. MHCP members receive recuperative care services when they don’t need to be hospitalized or remain hospitalized, or don’t meet severity of illness for other levels of care. Register for the webinar on the Recuperative Care Overview webpage. You will receive an email invitation immediately after you register.
Child Tax Credit: Beginning with tax year 2023, you may qualify for a Child Tax Credit of $1,750 per qualifying child under age 18, with no limit on the number of children claimed. This is a refundable credit, meaning you can receive a refund even if you do not owe tax. It does not count as income for public benefits. Learn more at the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Child Tax Credit webpage.
Working Family Credit: The Working Family Credit is available to Minnesotans who earned income, which includes wages, salaries, tips, and self-employment earnings from working during the year. This credit is Minnesota’s counterpart to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. The maximum Working Family Credit is $350 if your earned income is $8,750 or more, and it can increase by:
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$350 for no qualifying children
- $1,275 for one qualifying child age 18 or older
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$2,450 for two qualifying children age 18 or older
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$2,850 for three or more qualifying children age 18 or older
Learn more at the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Working Family Credit webpage.
How to claim these credits: For tax years 2022 and earlier, claim the Working Family Credit using Schedule M1WFC, Minnesota Working Family Credit. The Child Tax Credit is not available until tax year 2023. For tax years 2023 and later, claim both the Child and Working Family Tax Credits using Schedule M1CWFC, Minnesota Child and Working Family Credits, available in the next filing season. More information on qualifying children can be found at
Both the Child and Working Family Credits are phased out if your income is over $29,500 or $35,000 for Married Filing Jointly. The credit is reduced by 12% of earned income or adjusted gross income, whichever is greater.
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Moving expenses are set to become a covered service under Housing Stabilization Services on April 1, 2024. DHS’ Housing Stabilization Services team is holding Moving Expenses webinars on the following dates and both will cover the same content. Email dhshousingstabilization@state.mn.us if you have questions about these webinars.
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Feb. 22, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. - noon. Go to the Housing Stabilization Services - Moving Expenses Overview, Feb. 22, 2024, webpage to register.
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March 13, 2024, from 1 - 3:30 p.m. Go to the Housing Stabilization Services - Moving Expenses Overview, March 13, 2024, webpage to register.
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The Minnesota Legislative Session started yesterday, February 12. If you are interested in learning more about how the legislative process in Minnesota works, you can view the special webinar we held in January 2023 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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At the end of January, Cathy ten Broeke and Mason Persons joined MPR’s Minnesota Now to talk with Cathy Wurzer about developing Crossroads to Justice. Listen to their conversation here on the MRP website. If you would like to learn more about Crossroads to Justice visit: https://mich.mn.gov/crossroads-justice-strategic-plan.
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