Coversheet

Board Action Request
17-0500

Item Description:
Agmt A178253 with the Pohlad Family Foundation to accept grant funds for services for families and unaccompanied youth at-risk of or currently experiencing homelessness, 1/1/18–12/31/18, $500,000 (recv)

Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A178253 with the Pohlad Family Foundation to accept grant funds for prevention services for families and unaccompanied youth at-risk of or currently experiencing homelessness, in the receivable amount of $500,000, for the period of January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 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 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: Hennepin County has been awarded a grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation for the provision of prevention services in the following conditions: 1) prior to eviction filing, 2) when seeking prevention services and 3) when presenting for shelter, for families (ages 16+) and unaccompanied youth (ages 16-24) at-risk of or currently experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County. This is a new grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation. The Pohlad Family Foundation has been engaging in a strategic planning process over the course of the past year to identify priorities and focus for funding opportunities available through the Foundation in the future. The Foundation released their funding priorities in the Fall of 2017. Their funding priorities will be focused on unaccompanied youth and families that are at-risk of and currently experiencing homelessness. Hennepin County staff met with employees of the Pohlad Family Foundation in September 2017 to discuss community needs, specific to unaccompanied youth and families at-risk of and experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County. The Foundation announced in late October 2017 their plan to grant Hennepin County funds in the amount of $500,000 and for Hennepin County to select and convey these funds to community providers serving unaccompanied minors and/or families for the purposes of the grant. These grant funds will be included in HSPHD’s 2018 budget. Hennepin County has not selected specific contracted providers to whom these grant funds will be awarded at this time, given the very quick announcement of and awarding of this grant. Staff from HSPHD’s Housing and Homeless Initiatives, the Office of Housing Stability and the Office to End Homelessness are convening to further discuss the disbursement of these funds and related outcomes and evaluation that will be associated with the funds. These funds may be used to increase contracts that Hennepin County currently has with select providers in our community doing the same or similar work. In this case, Hennepin County staff would work to amend these contracts. The goal is to confirm by 12/15/17 with whom the County will contract for these funds and for what specific services.


Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval