Item Description:
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Agmt A2311975 with MN DHS to receive an Emergency Services Program (ESP) grant for family emergency overflow shelters, 11/01/23-06/30/25, $3,500,000 (recv)
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A2311975 with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to accept an Emergency Services Program grant for family emergency overflow shelter operations and support services, during the period of November 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025, in the receivable amount of $3,500,000, 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 accept and disburse the 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:
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) through its Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) awards Emergency Services Program (ESP) funding available every two years through a competitive application process. This funding supports emergency shelter, motel vouchers, day shelter and essential services for children, unaccompanied youth, single adults and families who are experiencing homelessness throughout the State of Minnesota.
Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health applied for this funding in response to the most recent application process earlier this year. The amount of funding available through the Emergency Services Program was increased by $30 million for this biennium following the recent legislative session as part of the “Pathways Home Act.”
Hennepin’s application was for $28,773,365 to reflect the true cost of various outreach and emergency shelter programs for the 2023 to 2025 state fiscal biennium. The priority was to seek support towards the significant costs of family overflow shelter. Recent demand for family shelter services required an increase of $17,228,900 for fiscal year 2023, as authorized through Board Resolution 23-0144 earlier this year. An amendment to the 2024 budget was submitted for funds to be used in 2024, pending approval.
The Hennepin County application also requested funding to help pandemic recovery funded programs to continue beyond the current ‘fiscal cliff’ at the end of 2024. In total, $3,485,099 of the Hennepin County application would have supported 24/7 adult emergency shelter operations in various contracted shelter providers, the new AICDC Homeward Bound shelter and the Streets to Housing team.
On June 28, 2023, Hennepin County was awarded a biennial amount of $3,500,000 to support family emergency overflow shelter operations and services. The grant award will fund a proportion of the County’s multi-site Family Overflow Shelter Program, at a daily capacity of 40 households and 60 household per year. This includes funding 4.0 FTE positions for support and program staff and management.
Current Request: This action is to accept this funding and approve the A2311975 grant agreement with DHS. The grant will support Hennepin County HSPH’s operations and support services for the multi-site Family Overflow Shelter Program.
Impact/Outcome: This action will provide financial support towards Hennepin County’s commitment to shelter families that have no other options and need emergency shelter while experiencing homelessness.
Disparity reduction: This request reduces disparities in the housing domain by providing assistance and services for people experiencing homelessness. Most often these are people who are members of groups disparately impacted by homelessness and housing instability.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval