Serving our priority population

The supportive housing strategy serves specific priority populations of especially vulnerable Hennepin County residents for whom housing instability leads to the worst health and safety concerns. These populations typically have 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 requirement to register as a predatory offender, specifically a Level 3 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 that will serve priority population groups from prior-year RFPs are also eligible for funding in any RFP.

Capital funds for supportive housing projects are awarded through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process available annually and administered through the Hennepin County supplier portal. 

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.

Attend the info session

A virtual information session for the 2023 Supportive Housing RFP and Coordinated Housing RFP was held January 11, 2023, 10-11:30 a.m.

View a recording of the meeting. 

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

To date, we have awarded $17.84 million to fund fourteen supportive housing projects with a combined 339 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, youth with neurodiverse conditions, 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)