Item Description:
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Amd 3 to Agmt A2111071 with the MN Dept of Human Services for grant funding for the administration of support services in permanent housing programs for long-term homeless, incr recv by $4,251,451 for a new total recv of $15,588,657, ext term to 06/30/27
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Amendment 3 to Agreement A2111071 with the Minnesota Department of Human Services for a grant from the state’s Long-Term Homelessness Supportive Services Fund (LTHSSF) Program and as part of the Human Services and Public Health’s Long-Term Homelessness Initiative with the other six counties of the metropolitan region, increasing the receivable amount by $4,251,451 for a new total amount of $15,588,657 and extending the term from the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027, be approved and 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 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:
In 2004, the State of Minnesota established a business plan to end long-term homelessness. In response, Hennepin County entered into a cooperative agreement with six other metro counties (Board Resolutions 06-6-358, 09-260) to develop and submit The Metropolitan Counties’ Long Term Homeless Supportive Services Plan to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to fund services in supportive housing programs that would allow the “seamless” delivery of services and coordinated allocation of resources across metro county boundaries. Under the governance structure of this agreement, Hennepin County is designated as fiscal agent and lead agency contractor for this multi-county effort. Since the initial funding in 2006 and through December 31, 2021, DHS had continued to allocate resources totaling $49,577,968 towards this effort (Board Resolutions 06-6-358, 07-416, 08-323, 09-0286, 10-0280, 11-0329R1, 12-0332, 13-0377, 15-0193, 15-0512,17-0414, 19-0450, and 20-0459).
This current agreement with DHS, A2111071, was approved by the Board on December 14, 2021 (Board Resolution 21-0478), as fiscal agent on behalf of the Regional Metro Committee. As the fiscal agent, Hennepin County entered into an agreement with Hearth Connection (HS00000978) to serve as the administrative entity for the delivery of services and allocation of resources for this initiative and to ensure consistency in services standards and outcomes.
Amendment 2 to this agreement extended its term by another two years, from ending on December 31, 2023 to ending on December 31, 2025. And it added another two years of funding in the amount of $5,668,603 to a new total grant not-to-exceed amount of $11,337,206. This amendment was approved on November 28, 2023 (Board Resolution 23-0446).
Amendment 3 to this agreement will extend the term by another eighteen months, from ending on December 31, 2025 to ending on June 30, 2027 and add funding in the amount of $4,251,451 to a new total not-to-exceed amount of $15,588,657.
The service dollars provided by this grant allow the metro counties to coordinate the range of services to individuals and families experiencing long-term homelessness and those families at risk of long-term homelessness. Hearth Connection is providing services that include:
• A service “network” that spans current metro county boundaries, providing uninterrupted supports and resources to clients that choose to move from one county to another;
• Specialized training in long-term homelessness to network service providers;
• Client monitoring and tracking, and utilization of the Statewide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS);
• Data collection and reporting to the counties and state;
• Linkage to permanent supportive housing;
• Full participation and compliance with state program evaluation;
• Additional services and funding as applicable
Current action: Amend agreement A2111071 with Minnesota Department of Human Services for long-term homeless supportive services funding for the 7-county metro region to extend the term of the grant from the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025 and to increase the receivable amount by $4,251,451 for a new total amount of $15,588,657.
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