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.
The priority population includes the following target groups:
- 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 who frequently use withdrawal management services
- People with developmental disabilities and either:
- Co-occurring mental illnesses or substance use disorders, or
- Needing to move from group settings to more independent living to make room for those needing more intensive care
- People leaving mental health treatment
- People with complex medical conditions experiencing homelessness
- People with a disability and a level 3 predatory offense
- 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
- Families with disabilities who are involved with child protection services
Each year, the Supportive Housing Strategy will focus on different priority population groups.
Recent and upcoming priority population groups include:
- 2019 – people experiencing chronic homelessness
- 2020 – people with severe addictions or experiencing homelessness
- 2021 – families involved with child protection services and people leaving mental health treatment
A new funding strategy
In 2019, Hennepin County initiated a funding strategy designed to encourage development of deeply affordable long-term supportive housing by strategically investing additional capital, operating, and service funding.
To maximize the impact of this funding, we will:
- Work with target populations to better understand their unique housing needs
- Partner with supportive housing developers and providers early in the project development process
- Increase focus and flexibility in how we invest