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Dear neighbors,
In November of 2024, the Hennepin County Board gave the greenlight for an innovative investment to fill a critical gap in our continuum of care for county-connected youth with complex diagnoses, behaviors, and trauma who face barriers within Minnesota's human services and juvenile justice system.
Only 13 months after this Board Action passed, county staff and local providers joined together this week at the new Youth Stabilization Center at 1800 Chicago Ave in Minneapolis for its soft open. We are proud to share that the center will begin serving our youth and families in mid-December 2025.
With 13 beds, the center is a small, secure setting with 24/7 program staffing. It is designed to be a welcoming, non-institutional setting. Services will be delivered by a community agency. Design features of the physical environment were youth-led and guided by care professionals and architects to create a space and environment that promotes healing. This includes natural light and comforting personal rooms; a sensory room; space for families to join their children when they are housed here; and informal spaces for youth and care providers to just, talk.
Stays are short, from 30-45 days, with programming that includes onsite education, individual and family counseling, and recreation.
We know that detention settings have not been designed, or in turn equipped, to holistically address complex mental health needs in the past. When youth are placed on yearlong waitlists or moved out of state because our system capacity is so low, we are not doing everything we can to improve outcomes locally.
This Hennepin County investment in our youth will help to correct deficiencies in the system, and places Hennepin as a leader and innovator of spaces and programming to ensure our youth with complex needs are getting support and tools they need to heal, and then exit better equipped to thrive.
Happy holidays,
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
What's happening at Hennepin County, and across the district:
Make sure to follow me on X! @HennepinDebbie
Read more about the Sudanese Farming Group.
Too many Hennepin County residents don’t have the resources to feed their families. In response to the federal shutdown, the Hennepin County Boad approved a request for up to $2 million to support local food banks, food shelves and food rescue organizations serving Hennepin County residents. Read the story from November 6.
The county is now in the process of distributing that funding to partner organizations to support ongoing community needs.
Additional assistance available
Programs like SNAP and WIC can help, too.
WIC is a nutrition and breastfeeding program that serves pregnant people, new mothers, babies and children up to age 5. In addition to nutrition education and breastfeeding counseling, WIC provides nutritious foods. Learn more at https://www.hennepin.us/wic.
Both programs are accepting applications.
Apply to a Hennepin County community advisory board!
The Hennepin County Board is recruiting volunteers for positions on 10 advisory and watershed district board through its annual open appointment process.
Each fall, the board accepts applications from residents interested in volunteer service positions on advisory boards, commissions, councils and special task forces. Board members will advise commissioners and help set policy on a variety of topics important to the county.
Community advisory board openings:
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Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council
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Birth Justice Community Advisory Board
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Capital Budgeting Task Force
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Community Action Partnership Board
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County Extension Committee (UMN Extension)
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Race Equity Advisory Council
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Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Board
Watershed board openings:
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Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board
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Starting January 2025 – the county board will conduct interviews.
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First quarter of 2025 – the county board will appoint volunteers to the positions.
Hennepin County is sponsoring a student art contest in partnership with the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Students in grades 6—12 who live or attend school in Hennepin County are invited to enter the contest. Winning art will be honored and exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
This year’s theme - Belonging Begins Here: Our Stories, Our County, and Our Pride – invites students to explore the meaning of belonging through a personal and local lens.
The program encourages participants to reflect on their identities, communities, and shared spaces that foster inclusion and connection. Students will highlight stories, landmarks, and cultural touch points within their districts that bring people together or represent sources of pride.
Contest submissions are being accepted now through January 4.
Attend a free event to talk with a county representative about homestead, delinquent taxes, property transfer basics, and more.
You may qualify for homestead status, if:
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You or one of your relatives live in the home
- You own the home in your name and not as a business entity
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You have a Social Security number or an ITIN
Deadline to homestead your property: December 31, 2025
Hennepin County Library has released a limited-edition Prince library card celebrating one of Minnesota’s most iconic artists. The card is available at all library locations while supplies last. Choose the Prince design when signing up for a new library card or when replacing your existing card! Details at https://www.hclib.org/prince.
Library cards are free, yet one of the most valuable cards you can carry. Discover millions of books and audiobooks, research tools, creative spaces, and services that support learning for you and your family at every stage of life.
As the holidays approach, it’s the perfect time to support local artisans, makers, and small businesses right here in our community. Shopping local keeps your dollars close to home, strengthens our regional economy, and gives you the chance to find one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gifts that carry a personal touch. Below are some great upcoming craft markets and boutiques across Richfield, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, and South Minneapolis — all featuring local talent and creativity.
Upcoming Local Craft Events
Northwoods Fall Boutique – Eden Prairie Center
November 28–December 23, 2025
Eden Prairie Center, 8251 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie
An extended seasonal boutique running through the holidays — perfect for unique gifts and home décor.
Event information
Eden Prairie Lioness Lions Club Art & Craft Fair
December 6, 2025
Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie
A long-standing local favorite with dozens of vendors supporting community causes.
More details
Minneapolis Craft Market
Multiple Dates
Minneapolis Craft Market is a community social hub, and an incubator for the arts. They provide a regular venue for both emerging and established makers to sell their work.
Event information
Hennepin County wants to hear from you about trees in your community
Whether you face challenges in caring for lawn, garden, and natural spaces or are an avid tree caretaker, your perspective matters. Share what you love about trees, what barriers you’ve run into, and how we can work together to grow a greener community that works for everyone.
In September, the county awarded 12 business waste prevention grants totaling over $165,000. Grant projects will take place in five cities.
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Help businesses reduce waste by purchasing reusable items like dishes, cups, and cleanroom gear.
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Support creative reuse projects that turn recycled plastics and salvaged goods into useful products.
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Teach people useful skills like sewing and mending so they can fix things instead of throwing them away.
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Make eco-friendly upgrades like fixing water systems or collecting pottery waste.
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This is the season to celebrate and support the small businesses that make Hennepin County such a great place to live.
We encourage everyone to shop, eat, and have fun at your favorite local businesses this holiday shopping season and all through the year.
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners took a moment at a recent meeting to celebrate our local businesses this season and how we support them all year with Elevate Hennepin.
Hennepin County took part in the grand opening celebration of Oshki-Gakeyaa or “New Way,” a 24-home permanent supportive housing community at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) in Minneapolis. The opening marked a significant achievement in strengthening housing stability and opportunity for Native families. 20 units are dedicated to single adults exiting homelessness and 4 will serve individuals with disabilities. The county supported the project with $800k in development funding and will continue to support tenants with $350k in annual service funding over 10 years.
“We know that housing ends homelessness,” said Commissioner Angela Conley at the event. “And this project, which includes so many units specifically for people exiting homelessness, and led by Native women for the Native community, is a big reason to celebrate.”
Discover all the free resources your library offers—from books and digital titles to homework help, community programs, and tech training.
Check the library’s events page to register and see what’s coming up next!
January is Human Trafficking and Exploitation Awareness Month in Minnesota.
Uplift, support and empower survivors and their families at Walk to End the Silence at the Mall of America. The event will also educate the community on how to identify and prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Walk to End the Silence
Thursday, January 22, 2026
7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Mall of America® -- Huntington® Bank Rotunda
60 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425
Current and upcoming lane and ramp closures on I-494
2025 Transportation Activities Webmap
Check out what’s happening across the county or zoom into your district to see what’s happening closer to you. To learn more about each project, just click on the line or dot on the map.
Transportation Capital Projects Webmap
Other resources:
Metropolitan Council weekly construction update
MnDOT- Metro Area State highway and bridge projects
Whether it's a housing crisis, energy assistance question, or child protection concern, we are here to help you navigate these and other issues.
Please call our office at 612-348-7885 or contact us to seek assistance or ask a question.
Contact
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
Hennepin County District 5
Bloomington | Eden Prairie | Richfield | SW Minneapolis
612-348-7885
Graham Faulkner
Policy Director
612-596-7078
Kate Nelson
District Director
612-348-7885
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