Item Description:
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Agmt A2311820 and Agmt A2311817 with Community Solutions to accept grant funding to staff and support work to end chronic homelessness, 07/01/23-06/30/25, $237,315 (recv) and $247,296 (recv), add 2 FTEs to HSPH 2023 budget
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A2311820 with Community Solutions International, Inc. accepting grant funding for staffing and supporting work to functionally end chronic homelessness in Hennepin County, during the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025, in the receivable amount of up to $237,315 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 funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Agreement A2311817 with Community Solutions International, Inc. accepting grant funding for staffing and services to support the goal to functionally end chronic homelessness, during the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025, in the receivable amount of $247,296 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 funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a supplemental appropriation to the 2023 Human Services and Public Health departmental budget in the amount of $121,150 and 2 limited duration FTE positions be approved; 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.
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Background:
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines chronic homelessness as someone who has a disability and has been experiencing homelessness for one year consecutively or four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.
Hennepin County’s team ending chronic homelessness officially joined Built for Zero (BFZ) on June 1, 2018. In September 2022, Hennepin County was invited to join a cohort of big cities around the country - Big City Last Mile (BCLM) who were selected because they are positioned to end either veteran or chronic homelessness. Hennepin County was the only big city well positioned to end chronic homelessness. Part of being part of the BCLM cohort is an opportunity to submit ‘case for investments’ to Community Solutions International, Inc for the chance to receive a 2-year funding award.
Hennepin County applied for these funds on May 1, 2023 and was awarded the two-year grants on June 6, 2023.
Below are the goals that we aim to accomplish with these grants:
• Reaching functional zero for chronic homelessness by the end of 2025 by addressing system gaps, refining processes, and removing barriers.
• Achieve shifts through intensive location-based work - in shelters and through street outreach and through intensive cohort-based work (i.e. age, disability, income, etc)
• Prevent at least 250 chronically homeless people per year who are newly housed from losing housing using a triage model.
• Evaluate current resources able to stabilize and support people once housed to identify any gaps impacting the goal of ending chronic homelessness.
Current Action: To approve receivable agreements A2311820 and A2311817 with Community Solutions International, Inc. and to accept funding for staffing and services to support the goal to functionally end chronic homelessness in Hennepin County, for the term of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025, in the receivable amounts of $237,315 and $247,296.
Disparity Reduction: This board action request aligns with Hennepin County disparity reduction efforts by funding services for individuals and households experiencing homelessness, in order for them to be stably housed. Most often these are people who are disparately impacted by homelessness and housing instability.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval