Since 1995, Hennepin County has been awarded a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Grant for the provision of home finding services and rental assistance for homeless families. Most recently, this grant funding for the Family Rapid Rehousing program was renewed through Agreement A2110812 (Board Resolution 21-¬0241 on July 20, 2021). Hennepin County applied for and was awarded this grant for HUD program year 2021 (Agreement A2211392 in the receivable amount of $503,868 for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2022). The award is for the provision of rapid rehousing services for families, in accordance with HUD and the Minneapolis/Hennepin County Continuum of Care funding priorities. The grant will be included in HSPHD’s 2023 budget. There is a 25% cash match for this grant that will be provided through Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) funds awarded to Hennepin County by Minnesota Housing.

Hennepin County HSPHD will contract with Agate Housing and Services (formerly St. Stephen’s Human Services), Simpson Housing, and The Link for the provision of these services.

Families being served by the rapid rehousing program have multiple barriers to housing. Families are assisted with locating and accessing housing while they are in shelter and transitioning to their new housing. Once in housing, families receive supportive services to help maintain housing stability, increase their incomes, and access community-based resources. The program's primary goal is that 80% of the families served will be stabilized in permanent, decent, affordable housing and will not return to county paid shelter for at least 12 months after housing placement services end. All school-aged children served in the program are connected with their school’s McKinney-Vento homeless liaison while in shelter to ensure that they are able to attend school regularly while in shelter and once the family moves into housing.

Most recently reported annual outputs and outcomes:
164 households were served by the grant awarded for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. In 2021, 76% of people successfully transitioned into permanent housing. Returns to homelessness data will be available in early 2023 – 12 months after grant year end.

Disparity reduction:
This request reduces disparities in the housing domain by funding assistance and services that quickly move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. Most often these are people who are members of groups disparately impacted by homelessness and housing instability.