Item Description:
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Agmt A2412311 with MN Housing Finance Agency to accept grant funds for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program for persons at immediate risk of homelessness, 07/01/24-09/30/25, $4,289,556 (recv); supp appr of $1,715,822 to the HSPH 2024 budget; 3 limited duration FTEs
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A2412311 with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, providing funds for homeless prevention services during the period July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025, in the receivable amount of $4,289,556, be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse the funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a supplemental appropriation of $1,715,822 to the 2024 Human Services and Public Health budget, including an addition of 1.0 Limited Duration FTE Case Management Assistant position, 1.0 Limited Duration FTE Office Specialist III position, and 1.0 Limited Duration FTE Accounting Specialist position, 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 if these grant funds are not made available or when grant funds are no longer available.
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Background:
The Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) was created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1993 as an outcome-oriented grant intended to address issues of homelessness for families with children, single adults, and youth. Hennepin County has been a grantee since 1993. Most recently, the board accepted FHPAP funding on August 22, 2023 (Board Resolution 23-0319). Hennepin County has been successful in utilizing federal funds to further expand the FHPAP services since 1995.
FHPAP services are aimed at preventing homelessness and quickly re-housing people who become homeless. These include financial assistance to help prevent households from becoming homeless and Rapid Re-Housing services to help families, singles, and youth obtain housing. Services also include case management to help households stabilize in the community and work toward self- identified goals. With these new funds, Hennepin County will focus on homeless prevention due to the one-time nature of these funds and that on average, it takes 18-24 months to successfully house people in Rapid Re-Housing.
The Human Services outcome-focused model is considered a national best practice by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The FHPAP service model has been widely replicated across the country.
The following are the expected outcome results with these funds:
1. Percent of households that exited the program to permanent housing:
a. Homeless prevention: 85% (674 households)
2. Percent of adults that maintained or increased their income at program exit:
a. Homeless prevention: 74% (586 individuals)
Prevention providers have been intentionally selected because of their ability to provide culturally specific services. Community Mediation and Restorative Services, Inc. (CMRS) is known to serve the African American community, as is Isuroon. Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) targets the Native American community. Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and YouthLink are both youth-serving providers.
Households served this biennium have dominantly been people of color, at 84% of Head of Households, and vs. 27% of people county-wide who identify as persons of color. The majority served have been African American heads of household (65%), Native American, (7%) and people identifying as more than one race (9%).
Minnesota Housing requires that the county evaluate outcomes through a racial equity lens. Hennepin County is working to monitor program outcomes for disparities and review/adjust programs and services to address any identified disparities in outcomes.
Organizations funded to provide services through this grant include:
• Community Mediation and Restorative Services, Inc. (CMRS)
• Isuroon
• Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC)
• People Serving People (PSP)
• Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP)
• Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of the North
• YouthLink
This funding will also support Hennepin County’s administration of direct assistance for Homeless Prevention. To accomplish this, the grant will support 1.0 Limited Duration FTE Case Management Assistant position, 1.0 Limited Duration FTE Office Specialist III position, and 1.0 Limed Duration FTE Accounting Specialist position.
Current Action: Approve Agreement A2311867 and accept $4,289,556 in funding from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency’s FHPAP for the remainder of the 2023-25 biennium (7/1/2024-9/30/2025). This funding will support Hennepin County’s and selected provider’s work in providing homelessness prevention.
Disparity Reduction: Work under this program is specifically targeted at reducing racial disparities and helps provide housing stability to people affected by systemic racism and the related impacts on education, income, and housing.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval