Serving our priority population

The Supportive Housing Strategy serves a priority population of especially vulnerable Hennepin County residents for whom housing instability leads to the worst health and safety concerns. This population typically has a combination of extremely low incomes (less than 30% of area median income or roughly $30,000 for a four-person household), and:

• Need for significant assistance to live independently
• A disabling condition increasing health and safety risks if unhoused
• No other access to existing support services

These households are most at risk of experiencing homelessness and are most likely to require ongoing support or services to live independently.

Priority population groups

The priority population targeted for the Supportive Housing Strategy includes an estimated 3,100 households.

Each year, the Supportive Housing Strategy focuses on one or more priority population groups in order to provide technical assistance, and to incent development of new housing specifically for those groups. Recent and upcoming priority population groups include:

2020

• People experiencing homelessness for at least a year — or for a total of 12 months over 3 years — while struggling with a disability (“chronic homelessness”)
• People with severe addictions

2021

• Families with disabilities involved with child protection services
• People leaving mental health treatment

2022

• Youth with neuro-diverse conditions (such as autism spectrum disorders, brain injuries, or fetal alcohol syndrome)
• Youth experiencing sexual exploitation
• Unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness
• Youth in and leaving extended foster care

2023

• People with disabilities and level three predatory offender designation
• People with severe addictions
• People leaving mental health treatment

2024

• People with intellectual and developmental disabilities with co-occurring conditions such as mental illness
• People experiencing homelessness with complex co-morbidities exacerbating public health risk

Proposals for priority population groups from prior RFPs are also eligible for funding.

Funds for supportive housing projects are disbursed as they are available through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process through the Hennepin County supplier portal.

Register in the supplier portal to receive automated RFP notices and submit proposals.

Fall 2022 request for proposals

As part of its supportive housing strategy, Hennepin County released a second request for proposals (RFP) on September 1^st for supportive housing development projects that serve four specific target populations:

• Youth with neuro-diverse conditions (such as autism spectrum disorders, brain injuries, or fetal alcohol syndrome)
• Youth experiencing sexual exploitation
• Unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness
• Youth in and leaving extended foster care

Proposals for priority population groups from prior RFPs are also eligible for funding, through the concurrent Affordable Housing Programs RFP. Up to $2.7 million in Supportive Housing capital funds are available. Proposals are due September 28^th.

View the RFP

Tips for applying

The Supportive Housing Program is designed to make funds available to projects earlier in the process than traditional housing finance programs, including projects still in the conceptual phase.

To prepare for current and future requests for proposals:

• Reach out to Hennepin County staff early to discuss project ideas.
• Build partnerships between developers/operators and service providers.
• Register in the supplier portal and signup for our housing and development newsletter to receive funding announcements.

Through the supportive housing strategy, Hennepin County could support development of 1,000 new supportive housing units over 10 years.

To date, we have awarded $13.29 million to fund twelve supportive housing projects with a combined 312 units of supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness and people with severe addictions, people exiting mental health treatment, families involved in child protection services, sexually-exploited youth, and unaccompanied minors.

Program handout (PDF) 

Supportive Housing Program Guidelines and Criteria (PDF)

Survey results: Housing preferences for people experiencing chronic homelessness (PDF)

Spring 2022 RFP (PDF)

Fall 2022 RFP (PDF)