Item Coversheet

Board Action Request
22-0233

Item Description:
Agmt A2211259 with the MN DHS to receive a Community Living Infrastructure reimbursement grant for a new limited duration housing resource specialist (1.0 FTE) and a current permanent staff position for administration of the Housing Support program (1.0 FTE), 06/01/22-03/31/24, $485,514 (recv)
Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A2211259 with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to accept a reimbursement grant from the Community Living Infrastructure grant program for a new full-time equivalent, limited duration housing resource specialist and for a current full-time equivalent permanent employee for the administration of the Housing Support program, during the period of June 1, 2022 through March 31, 2024, in the receivable amount of $485,514 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse the funds as directed; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Human Services and Public Health Department receive a supplemental appropriation of $150,280 to the 2022 Human Services and Public Health budget; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that sponsorship and acceptance of grant funding for this program by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners does not imply a continuing funding commitment by Hennepin County for this program when grant funds are no longer available.

Background:

In 2017, the Minnesota Legislature passed a comprehensive housing package, adding language to the Minnesota Housing Support Act (Chapter 256I), to increase and improve opportunities for Minnesotans with disabling conditions to live in the community. The housing package included grant funding aimed at supporting counties and tribes to integrate housing resources into their human service delivery systems throughout the state. The housing package included grant funding aimed at developing and supporting community living infrastructure throughout the state, totaling $2.8 million for the State through June 2019, $1.5 million for July 2019 - June 2020, and $2.6 million annually ongoing. Additional, limited duration funding was approved for the Community Living Infrastructure (CLI) grant throughout the state by the legislature, resulting in a total amount of new funding available for the program of $9 million for FY2022, $9 million for FY2023, and $8 million for part of FY2024.

 

Previous actions regarding this CLI funding include the following: Agreement A188925 with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) for $212,842, accepted by the County on June 12, 2018 (Board Resolution 18-0239); the amendment to Agreement A188925 in 2019 to extend it to June 30, 2021, and to add $375,335 to the grant for a total of $588,177, which was accepted by the County on June 18, 2019 (Board Resolution 19-0270); and Agreement A2110804 for $406,000, which was accepted by the County on June 22, 2021 (Board Resolution 21-­0252).

 

Current Request: For the June 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024 term, DHS issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on March 14, 2022. Hennepin County applied and was awarded $485,514 by DHS on May 13, 2022. This action is to accept this funding and approve the A2211259 grant agreement with DHS. The grant will allow us to fund 2.0 FTEs in the Housing Stability Area of Health and Human Services: for a new limited duration Housing Resources Specialist and for a current permanent employee for the Administration and Monitoring of Housing Support programs.

 

Impact/Outcome: Using these funds, Health and Human Services will be able to relieve the County of tax funds expenditures and support 2 FTEs for the Housing Stability Area. These resources were and will continue to be used to:

  • ensure operated and contracted staff have the knowledge and resources to support the people we serve in gaining and maintaining housing stability;
  • launch and expand community-based Housing Support programs; and
  • update and innovate Housing Support programs to increase people’s choice and maximize our use of all available resources.

 

Disparity reduction: This request reduces disparities in the housing domain by supporting planning, data analysis training, quality assurance activities, and housing resources for Hennepin County staff and the county’s Housing Support program. This planning and analyses identify, measure, and help to address racial and other disparities by providing housing resources as well as expanding and improving the quality of permanent supportive housing opportunities for people experiencing housing instability, who are most often people who are members of groups disparately impacted by homelessness and housing instability.

Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval