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 case management, direct assistance, and employment services for homeless families in Hennepin County.

This is a renewal grant from the HUD CoC program. Most recently, this grant funding for the Employment Enriched Rapid Rehousing program was renewed through Agreement A2110813 (Board Resolution 21-0242 on July 20, 2021) in the amount of $975,754 for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

Hennepin County applied for and was awarded this grant for HUD program year 2021 (Agreement A2211391 for the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023) in the amount of $985,534. This grant will serve families only, according to HUD and 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 Hennepin County’s Emergency Assistance Program and/or 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) and Simpson Housing Services for the provision of these services.

The employment-enriched family rapid rehousing program will annually work with 70 families with children experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County. Families are assisted with locating and accessing housing while they are in shelter and transitioning to their new housing. Once in housing, unemployed or under-employed participants are referred for employment services. Families continue to receive supportive services to help maintain housing stability and access community-based resources. The program's primary goal is that 80% of the people served will be stabilized in permanent, decent, affordable housing and 80% of the people served will not return to homelessness for at least 12 months after housing placement services end. The employment goal is that 41% of adults will retain or increase their employment income. 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.

For the most recent grant period ending 12/31/21, these were the outputs and outcomes:
• 63 households were served
• 83% of people were permanently housed at exit
• Returns to homelessness data will be available in early 2023 – 12 months after grant year end. 31% of adults who exited maintained or increased their employment income

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.