Ordinances that fine or jail people for simply sleeping outside are counterproductive to solving homelessness.  

Rico Morales, an Implementation Consultant on MICH's Crossroads to Justice plan, and Cathy ten Broeke, MICH Executive Director, joined Angela Davis on Minnesota Public Radio on July 23 to discuss why these kinds of approaches only make the crisis of homelessness worse. Listen to the full conversation at https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2024/07/23/punishing-people-sleeping-camping-in-public-spaces  

Their key takeaway: All sectors must work together to build a systemic response to homelessness based on the solutions we know work. Housing and services end homelessness. Tickets and arrests do not. 

Join the next monthly webinar on Wednesday, August 7 from 1 - 2 p.m. If you have any questions about your webinar registration, please email dan.gregory@state.mn.us   

On the August 7 webinar, DHS staff will share information about two upcoming changes to Minnesota income supplement programs. On October 1, 2024, the General Assistance (GA) maximum payment will increase for the first time since 1986! Staff will share brief details about who the program is for, the new maximum payment amounts, and what current program recipients can expect. Staff will also share an overview of significant Housing Support program change for October 1. Housing Support recipients in supportive housing settings will be responsible to pay 30% of their SSI, RSDI, or other benefit income. Staff will review how and when current recipients and their Housing Support providers will see these changes. 

The beginning 10 minutes of each monthly webinar will be held to hear from the Speakers Bureau. Anyone who has lived experience of homelessness is welcome to sign-up to share through the Speakers Bureau. This is open time each month for lived experience experts to share ideas and feedback with the webinar audience.   

The next webinar Speakers Bureau will be on Wednesday, August 7 at 1 p.m. There is a monthly prep session held the Tuesday before the webinar. The prep session will be Monday, August 5 from 11-11:30 a.m. (This is a change from the regular Tuesday time.) Follow this link to join the prep session. This is an ongoing opportunity that happens each month. Sign up is required. Please email dan.gregory@state.mn.us or call/text Dan at 651-983-9985 to sign up to speak or with any questions. 

In July of 2020, Minnesota launched one of the nation’s first housing stability focused Medicaid benefits: Housing Stabilization Services (HSS). During the past four years, there have been successes and there have been challenges, and now we are entering into a moment of opportunity to pursue meaningful changes and enhancements to HSS.   

Based on the feedback and experience-sharing from providers and individuals with lived experience have provided, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Minnesota Housing knows there are improvements that can be pursued to bring HSS closer to the vision that led to its development: a benefit that can be used by supportive housing providers to help individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability receive the support and care needed to live and thrive in their community. DHS and Minnesota Housing have recently partnered with Public Sector Consultants (PSC) and Health Management Associates (HMA), nonpartisan public policy consulting firms, to help achieve that collective vision.   

The next step in achieving this vision is to host engagement sessions. The engagement sessions will provide space for you to:  

• Affirm and/or revise the list of HSS challenges identified to date; 
• Affirm and/or revise the list of HSS desired changes identified to date; and  
• Share with you what the process may look like to request and seek approval to make the desired HSS changes 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is hiring a new position on their legislative team, a Legislative Director position supporting the new Homelessness, Housing, and Supports Administration. This position is responsible for directing the legislative agenda, leading major policy change initiatives, providing lead work and mentoring the assigned legislation liaison, division-level staff and legislative coordinators, and improving and managing stakeholder relations.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

This and other roles at the State of Minnesota can also be found at https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/search-for-jobs/    

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is excited to announce the establishment of a Working Group on Simplifying Supportive Housing Resources. This initiative aims to streamline access, eligibility, and administration of state-funded supportive housing resources for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

The Working Group is seeking five representatives from organizations providing or administering state-funded supported housing resources to people experiencing homelessness. Information about the Simplifying Supportive Housing Resources Working Group can be found at this link. 

Meeting dates and times are to be determined, with virtual participation possible. If you or someone you know is interested in serving on this working group, please create an account on the Secretary of State website, follow the instructions for How to Apply for a Position, and fill out an application for the Simplifying Supportive Housing Workgroup under “open positions” by August 7, 2024, with preference given to applicants who apply before August 1. Your insights and experience will be crucial in achieving our shared objectives. 

Please feel free to reach out to Leslie.Thompson@state.mn.us with any questions. 

Crossroads to Justice is the strategic plan of the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness, bringing a housing, racial and health justice approach for people facing homelessness in Minnesota to guide the work of state government. 

The plan identifies five bold results that will drive significant movement towards housing, racial and health justice. The second result focuses on preventing and breaking the cycle of homelessness: 

Homelessness is prevented whenever possible, and services and supports are provided to ensure no one returns to homelessness.  

Strategy 1: Improve access to resources for households to sustain their housing.   

Strategy 2: Support people in transitions so they do not leave government funded or operated systems into homelessness. 

Strategy 3: Use data to target resources more effectively. 

One initiative supporting this result is the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veteran Temporary Emergency Housing Assistance Program (V-TEMP). The program provides reimbursements to Community Service Providers who are covering the cost of temporary hotel rooms or non-congregate temporary units for Veterans or former service members and their households, who are actively experiencing homelessness. This short-term option offers a reprieve for individuals experiencing homelessness while their need for additional services is assessed. The V-TEMP program is considered a last alternative and implemented when there are no other temporary emergency housing options in the community. 

Learn more about program guidelines and qualifications at https://mn.gov/mdva/resources/homelessnessandprevention/