In this edition:
-
September 17 MICH webinar will focus on sharing our stories to make a difference in our communities
-
No October webinar
-
Public comment period open until September 20 for Housing Stabilization Services termination
-
“Engaging the Unhoused Workforce” webinar uplifts best practices and considerations for employing people facing homelessness
-
Twin Cities leaders speak to the need for federal investments in housing
-
Congratulations to Lived Experience Advocacy Network!
- Having a substance use disorder or mental health challenges doesn’t make someone a criminal
Join us for the next MICH webinar on Wednesday, September 17 from 1 - 2 p.m. All webinar registration links will continue to work without any change from you – just login! If you have any questions about your webinar registration, please email dan.gregory@state.mn.us
On the September 17 webinar, hear about ways you can share your story and insights to make a difference in our communities.
Though MICH webinars are not the ideal place to address individual circumstances, MICH is committed to following up if people do raise specific questions or concerns.
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, September 17 at 1 p.m. There is a monthly prep session held the Tuesday before the webinar. The prep session will be Tuesday, September 16 from 11-11:30 a.m. 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.
There will be no MICH October webinar due to an overlap with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless’ annual conference. We look forward to seeing many of you at the conference and being back on the webinar on November 5!
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) posted for public comment the State Plan Amendment that would terminate the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program. The comment period is open for 30 days, ending Sept. 20. This is a required step as part of the termination process.
Click here to review the amendment proposing the termination of HSS.
Public comments that are submitted do not need to follow any specific format. DHS will review and respond to all comments in whatever form and length they are submitted.
DHS has compiled an FAQ for HSS providers and clients that contains all of the information available at this time. The department is collaborating with the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to ensure this change is implemented with minimal impacts to people who use the program. DHS will continue to update the FAQs and communicate with partners and providers as more information becomes available.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) hosted a webinar on “Engaging the Unhoused Workforce” on September 3. DEED staff shared why recruiting and hiring people facing homelessness can be a benefit to employers, discussed potential barriers and how to remove them, and provided a checklist to proactively create a beneficial work environment. Panelists from Leech Lake Housing Authority (shoutout to MICH Implementation Consultants Katie Brown and Deanna Monroe for sharing!) Project for Pride in Living, Small Sums, and Wildflyer Coffee offered practical insights, stories of dos-and-don'ts, and responded to audience questions.
Click here to sign up for future “Workforce Wednesday” webinars through DEED.
It was a wonderful event showcasing the different roles MICH agencies have in advancing housing, racial and health justice for people facing homelessness. Thank you to DEED for providing the platform and to all the presenters!
Minnesotans need the federal government to be a strong partner in preventing and ending homelessness. On August 20, panelists at an event in Hopkins shared how they use federal resources to support their communities and why Congress must invest in proven solutions and grow – rather than cut – funding that fosters stability.
Find coverage from local media here:
Investing in home is investing in people, communities, and a better future for all of us.
Lived Experience Advocacy Network (LEAN) - Minnesota is a constituent-led network of diverse change makers who share the experience of homelessness. This week, it was announced that LEAN Minnesota is one of two recipients of the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Workforce Innovation Fund. Their Ladders & Lifelines, a program that will offer training and mentorship to people with lived experience who are working or seeking employment in the homeless services field, proposal stood out among nearly a thousand applications.
Click here to read the full announcement. Congratulations to LEAN Minnesota for their visionary work and national recognition!
President Trump’s Executive Order on homelessness positions substance use disorders and mental health challenges as somehow criminal and recklessly implies we should fear our relatives facing unsheltered homelessness rather than stand in solidarity with them.
There is a better way to help people who have mental health challenges or substance use disorders: health care options tailored to their individual needs.
|
