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Hennepin County Housing

Expanding winter shelter: Hennepin County adds 133 beds during cold winter months

As temperatures drop, Hennepin County is taking action to ensure that residents experiencing homelessness have access to safe, warm spaces. With an investment of $1.7 million, the county is partnering with the City of Minneapolis and several local nonprofit organizations to expand emergency shelter capacity to meet increased seasonal demand and support long-term housing stability.

A strategic approach to housing stability

This shelter expansion is part of Hennepin County’s broader strategy to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring.

The county is investing in shelter with services to meet immediate needs while also helping people connect to resources and support for long-term housing outcomes.

“This initiative aligns with the broader approach of making homelessness brief,” said Bre Jaijairam, Professional Services Supervisor. “By providing access to additional shelters and service-rich environments, we can help to end homelessness for the people who stay there.”

Guided by data and community input

The county maintains a public emergency shelter dashboard that tracks shelter availability, usage trends, and demographic data. This tool helps staff and partners monitor capacity and respond to emerging needs in real time.

A review of current system data informed the planning for this expansion, along with feedback from members of Hennepin County’s Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) who participated in the Winter Warming RFP evaluation and helped select the projects that were funded.

As a result of this input, Hennepin County has added 83 beds to the homeless response system during the cold weather months, 54 additional beds that can be accessed year-round, and has extended the contract for 50 overnight drop-in spaces.

The organization and number of added beds:

  • Our Saviour’s – 10
  • Rescue Now – 50
  • Steps of Strategy – 15
  • Agate Housing and Services – 8
  • Agate: The Valiance – 54
  • AICDC KOLA Drop-In Center – 50

All winter warming beds will operate from November 1 through April 30. The 54 beds at the newly opened Valiance will stay open year-round.

Reserve a shelter bed

Call the Hennepin Shelter Hotline: 612-204-8200 to reserve a shelter bed.

Learn more on our severe cold warming webpage.