Item Description:
title
Amd 2 to Agmt A2110871 with MN Housing Finance Agency for the provision of homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services for homeless persons, no change to dates, incr recv by $5,500,000 (new NTE recv $11,037,000); supp appr to HSPH 2023 budget
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Amendment 2 to Agreement A2110871 with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program accepting funding for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services, increasing the receivable amount by $5,500,000 for a new total receivable amount of $11,037,000 ($5,537,000 for regular or biennial funding and $5,500,000 for one-time Fast Track funding) with no change to contract dates, 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 disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a supplemental appropriation of $5,500,000 to the 2023 Human Services and Public Health budget, including an addition of 3.0 Limited Duration FTE Human Services Representative 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:
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 and approved Agreement A2110871 on August 17, 2021 (Board Resolution 21-0321) and approved Amendment 1 to this agreement on March 7, 2023 (Board Resolution 23-0089). Hennepin County has been successful in utilizing federal funds to further expand the FHPAP services since 1995.
Recently the Minnesota Legislature authorized an additional $50 million in FHPAP “fast track” funding statewide to be allocated by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to grantees for the remainder of this grant term, which ends September 30, 2023 (2023 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 20, Section 1). Hennepin County was awarded $5,500,000 of these additional funds, for the 2021-23 biennium. This additional funding will be allocated for additional homeless prevention assistance and services based on substantial unmet need in the community and the capacity of prevention providers and Hennepin County staff to fully utilize this additional funding within the remaining grant period. To accomplish this, 3.0 new Limited Duration Human Services Representative FTEs will be hired and supported with this funding.
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.
The following are the major outcomes results for the first fifteen months of the current grant period biennium - October 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022:
1. Percent of households that exited the program to permanent housing:
a. Homeless prevention: 93% (144 households)
b. Rapid rehousing: 65% (131 households)
2. Percent of adults that maintained or increased their income at program exit:
a. Homeless prevention: 75% (115 individuals)
b. Rapid rehousing: 73% (165 individuals)
Organizations funded to provide services through this grant include:
• Catholic Charities
• Edith House
• Lutheran Social Services
• Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC)
• NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, Inc.
• Simpson Housing
• St. Stephen's Human Services
• The Link
• Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA)
Impact/Outcomes: Approval of this request will increase the capacity to assist households at imminent risk of homelessness to maintain stable housing.
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. Prevention and Rapid Rehousing providers have been specifically selected to provide culturally specific services. For Prevention this includes MIWRC to the Native American Community, CLUES for the Latinx community, and NorthPoint to the North Minneapolis community and its target population there who are predominantly people of color. Edith House is a new RRH provider that will prioritize services to the African American community, primarily single adults, and subject to available referrals from the Coordinated Entry System.
Current Action: Amend Agreement A2110871 to add funding recently authorized by the Minnesota Legislature to be allocated by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency from the FHPAP fund to grantees, in the amount of $5,500,000, increasing the total FHPAP grant to Hennepin County to $11,037,000 for the 2021-23 biennium. This additional funding will be allocated for additional homeless prevention assistance and services based on substantial unmet need in the community and the capacity of prevention providers and Hennepin County staff to fully utilize this additional funding within the remaining grant period.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval