Item Description:
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Amd 1 to Agmt A2312011 with DHS for Opioid Response Services for the HCH Program, ext funding period through 09/29/27, incr recv by $1,715,934 for a new total recv of $2,845,934
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Amendment 1 to Agreement A2312011 with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) for Opioid Response Services for the Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program, extending the funding period through September 29, 2027, and increasing the receivable amount by $1,715,934 for a new total receivable amount of $2,845,934 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the amendment on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse 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 continued funding commitment by Hennepin County for this program if grant funds become no longer available.
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Background:
Through resolution 23-0449 the Board accepted $1,653,072 receivable from DHS for the HCH program. This funding was for the provision of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) services to all persons experiencing homelessness and opioid addiction with specific outreach and retention services for American Indians experiencing homelessness and opioid addiction.
Grant funding makes it possible for HCH staff to continue to work within the mobile outreach program’s on-demand treatment system, meaning patients can receive services at multiple walk-in clinics without an appointment or be seen at a shelter, on the street, and other locations that works best for everyone. The HCH MOUD program has a robust low-barrier approach locating and working with people who do not have identification, addresses, or housing. The HCH MOUD program uses a harm reduction model of care and ensures people living with Opioid Use Disorder have harm reduction supplies ensuring safe use and overdose prevention.
Through SOR funding, in 2024, Health Care for the Homeless had the following accomplishments:
- Hired and onboarded a Street Medicine and Outreach Supervisor to lead the mobile outreach program and team. This hire boosted HCH MOUD visits, deepened relationships with other street outreach teams, increased patients’ medication adherences, and expanded the distribution of harm reduction supplies during outreach.
- Expanded services at the HCH Outreach Drop-in site, located at the Kola Safe Haven in the heart of the Phillips Neighborhood, where many American Indians reside. The HCH Kola drop-in site is centrally located and has been a reliable space for individuals to drop-in for harm reduction supplies, MOUD care, testing, social services, and mental health care.
- In Quarter 4, the HCH Street Outreach team had 121 prescriber MOUD visits with patients, 77% of which were with patients that identify as American Indian. The team distributed 19,300 clean syringes out of the Kola Drop-in, as well as distributing 316 doses of nasal naloxone and 150 doses of intramuscular naloxone.
This request reduces disparities in the health domain by targeting lifesaving medication and education to American Indian residents and families who are disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic and opioid use disorder and experiencing homelessness.
APEX Coding:
Fund: 20
Department ID: 532099
Project ID: 1008484
Revenue Account: 42067
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval