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Hennepin County, Minnesota

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Heading Home Hennepin Continuum of Care

Partnering to end homelessness

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness, while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

The Continuum of Care is governed by local elected officials, non-profit leaders, community advocates, and individuals who have experienced homelessness with support from Minneapolis and Hennepin County’s Office to End Homelessness. Operations of the Continuum of Care are carried out by non-profit agencies city, county, and state government.

Our homeless strategies are managed by the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County’s Office to End Homelessness, the Office of Housing Stability and Housing and Homeless Initiatives.

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HUD McKinney Vento Continuum of Care

Hennepin County partners in efforts to reduce homelessness through community coordination and planning. HUD McKinney Vento Continuum of Care (CoC) funds is one of many funding sources to help reduce homelessness. CoC helps single adults, families and youth who meet the criteria for homelessness as defined by HUD. CoC money helps people find housing, pay damage deposits, pay rent and pay for services to help them stay in their home.

The county and its partners compete nationally to receive CoC money. The competition also provides an opportunity to receive a permanent housing bonus to create more housing.

Hennepin County will host a FY2018 NOFA community meeting to review the NOFA changes from 2017, Hennepin CoC timeline and other relevant information. Any interested projects or applicants are welcome to attend.

  • June 29, 2018, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
  • Hennepin County Library – Brookdale (Room C)
    6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center

Documents

Notice of funding availability (NOFA) for fiscal year 2018 Continuum of Care Program Competition (PDF)

2018 NOFA overview – changes from 2017-2018 (DOCX)

Continuum of Care information - Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

2018 Point in time count (PIT) (PDF)

2018 Housing inventory count (HIC) (XLSX)

2018 Hennepin County CoC timeline (DOCX)

FY 2018 Letter of Intent to Apply (DOC)

2018 CoC priorities/ranking process and procedures/appeal process (DOCX)

2018 CoC priority list (XLSX)

2018 collaborative application (PDF)

2018 grantees for continuum of care money

FY2018 grant awards – document coming soon

Youth initiatives

100-day Challenge

Hennepin County is one of just five communities across the nation chosen for a 100-Day Challenge on Youth Homelessness. The challenge lasts from July 31 to November 8, 2017. The challenge is part of a growing national movement to speed up efforts to prevent and end homelessness for youth.

The county's goal is to house 150 youth ages 16-24, with 75% of them employed (which can include a job, paid internship or enrolled in a credential, advanced training or work readiness program).

Through this effort, the county hopes to have learned a lot about creating needed changes to speed up efforts to prevent and end homelessness among youth. The county plans to continue using what it learned during the 100-day challenge, to innovate, collaborate, and be action-oriented, moving forward.

Follow the 100-day challenge

Twitter

Instagram

100-day challenge memo (DOCX)

Research on youth homelessness

A closer look at youth homelessness - 2015 (PDF)

Voices of Youth Count (PDF)

Single adult initiatives

The county made a major change in 2016, creating a single point of entry into shelter for homeless single adults. Called Adult Shelter Connect, the redesigned system came from the collaborative work of five agencies who provide emergency shelter for single adults. Adult Shelter Connect works alongside an open Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), identification cards, bed reservations and a coordinated assignment system.

Redesign plan (DOCX)

The Office to End Homelessness plans and implements the response to chronic homelessness in Hennepin County. This aligns with the federal goal to end chronic homelessness by the end of 2017.

Someone experiencing chronic homelessness has been homeless for more than one year and has a disability. The disability can include chemical or mental health. In Hennepin County in 2016, 200-250 people in shelter each night were chronically homeless. In a year, 1200 people are chronically homeless, mostly single adults. They use a lot of emergency room, mental health and chemical dependency services. This cycle is inefficient and can negatively affect people who are homeless. This project can implement strategies to improve efficiency and decrease homelessness.

Chronic homeless project summary (DOC) 

Housing first program evaluation - 2009 (PDF)

Rapid exit and shelter mobility - 2011 (PDF)

Research and planning for housing stability

Every person needs housing, as a vital building block to a successful life. Hennepin County puts limited staff and money to use in the best possible way, so the most vulnerable, disabled and impoverished residents can get into and stay in their housing.

In 2017 we started focusing on the problem “up-stream,” to help people avoid homelessness in the first place. We work to make as much housing as possible available to people who need it. We prioritize staff and programs. We enable people to more fully earn an income, so they can pay for housing.

Hennepin County now focuses on housing stability - helping people get and maintain their housing.

Housing stability in Hennepin County (PDF)

Status of housing in Hennepin County (PPT)

University of Minnesota Capstone research

Hennepin County works with the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs to evaluate and research critical issues, including housing and homelessness.

Risk of becoming homeless in Hennepin County - 2012 (PDF)

Preserving Home: Improving Eviction Prevention in Minnesota (PDF)

Evictions research

Evictions in Minneapolis (PDF)

Carlson School Presentation on Model to Predict Evictions Among County Clients April 2018 (PPT)

Final report from Carlson School on Predicting Evictions Among County Clients April 2018 (PDF)

Humphrey Capstone Presentation on evictions May 2018 (PPT)

Humphrey Report Eviction and Homelessness May 2018 (PDF)

Eviction dashboard

Hennepin County, with funding from the McKnight Foundation, developed an interactive eviction dashboard to explore when, where, and how eviction filings and judgments happened in the county. The dashboard demonstrates that evictions, while happening county-wide, are more prevalent in lower income and ethnically diverse neighborhoods. This tool was developed to assist the county and community partners in preventing evictions, and for the general public to understand where evictions happen in their communities.

View the dashboard.

Heading Home Hennepin

Heading Home Hennepin was a 10-year plan created in 2006 to end homelessness by 2016. Led by Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis’ joint Office to End Homelessness, it became a model for similar initiatives nationwide.

A group made up of diverse representatives created the plan. It included people from federal, state and local governments, business, nonprofit, faith and philanthropic communities, and homeless and formerly homeless residents. In addition, hundreds of business, faith, philanthropic, government and advocacy leaders championed the plan.

Ten-year plan to end homelessness (PDF)

Governing boards and committees

Executive committee

The Hennepin County CoC executive board oversees the governance of the homeless response system. The executive board assigns work to the operations board and working committees. Members of the boards and committees include elected officials, local government agencies, public and private providers of direct services and housing, educators, philanthropic organizations, faith communities, and people who are homeless and formerly homeless.

  • Task: Oversee the work to prevent and end homelessness in Hennepin County
  • Meeting time: To Be Determined (January, May, September)
  • Location: To Be Determined
  • Staff: David Hewitt, david.hewitt@hennepin.us

Standing members

  • City of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey - Chair
  • Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender
  • Minneapolis City Council Member Jeremy Schroeder
  • Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison – Chair
  • Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene
  • Minneapolis Director of Community Development and Planning Andrea Brennan
  • Hennepin County Manager for Housing Development and Finance Margo Geffen
  • Hennepin County Deputy County Administrator Jennifer DeCubellis
  • Hennepin County Director Human Services Jodi Wendtland

Members in renewed term 2017-2019

  • Downtown Business Council – Steve Cramer - Chair
  • University of Minnesota – Maria Hanratty
  • Community Representative – John Knowland
  • Suburban Community Representative – Luke Weisberg

Members in renewed term 2018-2020

  • Minnesota State Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness – Cathy ten Broeke
  • Community Representative – Kimberly Carpenter
  • Hennepin County Medical Center – Dr. Danielle Robertshaw
  • University of Minnesota Hennepin University Partnership – Kathie Doty
  • Downtown Safety Zone – Shane Zahn

Members in first term 2018-2020

  • Minneapolis Public Housing Authority – Tracy Scott
  • Foundation Representative – Courtney Cushing Kiernat (Pohlad Family Foundation)
  • Hennepin County Community Corrections – Chester Cooper / Julie Rud
  • Faith community – Melissa Pohlman (DCEH)
  • Foundation Representative – Sam Blackwell (GTCUW)
  • Community Representative – DeWayne Parker

Operations board

  • Task: Ensure the CoC puts into action HUD requirements, and critical tasks and initiatives to prevent and end homelessness.
  • Meeting time: 1st Monday of the month, 1 to 3 p.m.
  • Location: To Be Determined
  • Staff: Laura DeRosier, laura.derosier@hennepin.us

Standing members

  • Maria Hanratty, U of M Humphrey school
  • Bert Winkel, House of Charity
  • Annie Wells, St Stephens Human Services
  • Carina Aleckson, Catholic Charities
  • John Knowland, Community Rep
  • Tamara Stark, Tubman
  • Stacy Sweeney, YMCA
  • Ryan Strack, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Gail Anderson, Hennepin County Shelter Team
  • Matt Bower, City of Minneapolis
  • Ben Wilson, Minnesota Interagency Council on Homeless/Veteran
  • Melisa Illes, Public Housing Authority Hennepin County
  • Kevin McTigue, Hennepin County Corrections/Law Enforcement
  • Wendy Weigman, Simpson Housing
  • Mike Goze, American Indian Community Development Corporation
  • Laura Craig, RS Eden
  • Sarah Koschinska, Housing Developer Project for Pride
  • Kelly Paton, Institute for Community Alliance
  • Janine Wenholz, Community member
  • Allysen Hoberg, Prism
  • Katie Miller Youth, YouthLink
  • Rinal Ray, People Serving People
  • Jonelle Glubke, Minneapolis Veterans Association
  • Jennifer Weismann, Start Today Hennepin

HUD McKinney Vento CoC Funding Committee

  • Task: Monitors and evaluates the performance of all projects funding by CoC. The committee also solicits new project applications and recommends final funding decisions.
  • Meeting time: 1st Monday of the month, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
  • Location: To Be Determined
  • Staff: Laura DeRosier, laura.derosier@hennepin.us

Standing members

  • Anna Burke
  • Bert Winkel
  • Dawn Petroskas
  • Erin Wixsten
  • Gregg Colburn
  • Leah Cameron
  • Larisa Breid
  • Maureen Keegan
  • Melisa Illies
  • Nathaniel Saltz
  • Pat Leary
  • Pat Longs
  • Stephanie Corrente
  • Cynthia Jackson
  • Stacy Sweeney

Homeless prevention and rapid rehousing advisory committee

  • Task: Assist Hennepin County with developing and overseeing homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services.
  • Meeting time: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Location: St. Stephen's, 2309 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis
  • Contact: Stacy Sweeney, stacy.sweeney@ymcamn.org

Voting members

  • Annie Wells, St. Stephen’s Human Services - Secretary
  • Courtney Knoll, MESH
  • Jenny Buckland, PROP Food - Co-Chair
  • Katie Miller, YouthLink
  • Elena Shaw, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Malissa Adams, Catholic Charities - Secretary
  • Stacy Sweeney, YMCA Youth Intervention Services - Co-Chair
  • Kristen Brown, Matrix Housing Services

Non-voting subcommittee members

  • Allysen Hoberg, PRISM
  • Heather Wilmot LeMay, St. Stephen’s
  • Jay Pearson, Community Advocate
  • Natasha Triplett, CEAP
  • Sara Wenzel, St. Stephen's Human Services

Hennepin County staff: Julia Welle Ayres, Amy Donohue, Cindy Towe, Abbey Fahnhorst, Mark Legler (non-voting)

Additional non-voting members include other homeless prevention and rapid rehousing providers, representatives from veterans’ organizations, and shelter staff. All are welcome to attend and participate in discussions.

Family coordinated entry leadership committee

  • Task: Ensures consistent application of CES policies and procedures and high quality service delivery for persons and families experiencing a housing crisis.
  • Meeting time: 1st Tuesday of the month, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Location: Sabathani, 310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis
  • Contact: Laurel Lilligren, llilligren@peopleservingpeople.org

Standing members

  • Chair- Laurel Lilligren, People Serving People
  • Domestic Violence Rep- Teresa Burns, Casa de Esperanza
  • Housing Provider Rep- Annie Wells, St. Stephens Human Services
  • Housing Provider Rep- Wendy Wiegmann, Simpson Housing Services
  • Emergency Shelter- Gail Anderson, Hennepin County (Non-Voting)
  • Youth Provider Rep- Zayed Ahmed, Avenues for Youth
  • Suburban Rep- open
  • Hennepin County staff: Sarah Hunt, David Hewitt, Casey Schleisman (Non-voting)

Single adults coordinated entry leadership committee

  • Task: Provides the guidance and decisions necessary to successfully operate the Single Adults CES.
  • Meeting time: 3rd Monday of the month, noon to 2 p.m.
  • Location: To Be Determined
  • Contact: Carina Aleckson, carina.aleckson@cctwincities.org

Standing members

  • David Jeffries
  • Michele Boyer
  • Heather Duscherer
  • Jay Wagner
  • Steve Horsfield
  • Carina Aleckson
  • Marney Thomas
  • Kristen Brown
  • Subi Ambrose
  • Ciara Kunert

Shelter efficiency

  • Task: Improve the homeless shelter system for single adults. Identifies barriers for single adult shelters and coordinates services. Also, enables more effective community-wide strategies to end homelessness.
  • Meeting time: 3rd Wednesday of the month, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Location: Simpson Shelter, 2740 First Avenue South, Minneapolis
  • Contact: Danielle Werder, danielle.werder@hennepin.us

Employment and income committee

  • Task: Identify and implement strategies to assist CoC funded programs in improving their employment outcome measures. Build awareness and knowledge of the importance of employment and income in preventing and ending homelessness across our community.
  • Meeting time: 4th Tuesday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to noon
  • Location: Sabathani, 310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis
  • Contact: Heidi Schmidt Boyd, heidi.boyd@hennepin.us

Family Service Network (FSN)

  • Task: Works to improve the family support system, focusing on the well-being of children who are homeless. Collaboratively identifies barriers and solutions, in policy and programs, to create more effective community-wide strategies across the CoC to end homelessness for families.
  • Meeting time: 2nd Friday of the month, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Location: To Be Determined
  • Contact: Casey Schleisman, casey.schleisman@hennepin.us

Hennepin County Youth Collaborative (HCYC)

  • Task: Serves as a forum for collaborative discussion, advocacy, planning, and action to frame solutions for youth (ages 16-24) who are experiencing homelessness.
  • Meeting time: 3rd Friday of the month, 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
  • Location: Sabathani, 310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis
  • Contact: Casey Schleisman, casey.schleisman@hennepin.us

Youth Action Board (YAB)

  • Task: YAB creates a bridge for those who serve and make decisions on behalf of youth and youth who are at-risk and currently experiencing homeless. This is done through communication, mentorship, community building, advocacy, and building and taking action.
  • Meeting time: 2nd Monday of the month, 3 to 5 p.m.
  • Location: To Be Determined
  • Contact: Casey Schleisman, casey.schleisman@hennepin.us

The Outreach Group (TOG)

  • Task: Monthly forum for outreach workers to network, to work on system issues and to form partnerships. Informal.
  • Meeting time: 4th Tuesday of the month, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
  • Location: St. Stephen's, 2309 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis
  • Contact: John Tribbett, john.tribbett@st.stephensmpls.org

ED Single Adult Shelter Collaborative

  • Task: De facto steering committee for the Single Adult Shelter Collaborative.
  • Meeting time: To Be Determined
  • Location: Sabathani, 310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis
  • Contact: Danielle Werder, danielle.werder@hennepin.us

Single Adult Collaborative Review

  • Task: Case consultation utilizing the chronic index.
  • Meeting time: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, 11 a.m. to noon
  • Location: St. Olaf Catholic Church (basement meeting room)
  • Contact: Danielle Werder, danielle.werder@hennepin.us
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