Sponsor: Housing Stability
Title
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Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program.
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the period of June 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, in the amount of $3,288,018.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to agreements and contracts in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures provided the amounts are within the limits of grant funding.
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Background and Rationale
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The Minnesota Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) was established in 1993 to assist families with children, single adults and youth who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) administers the FHPAP with guidance from the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness and the state’s plan to prevent and end homelessness. The FHPAP provides funds to serve low-income (less than 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines) residents to prevent homelessness and/or to rapidly rehouse those households that are homeless.
Ramsey County works with its community partners through an FHPAP Advisory Committee (required by statute) and Heading Home Ramsey (the county’s Continuum of Care or “CoC”) to design a homeless crisis response system, develop project outcome measures, and assess the short and long-term effectiveness of the program in meeting the needs of families who are at risk of homelessness, or are experiencing homeless. This year, Heading Home Ramsey CoC prioritized serving families with minor children, single adults, and parenting or unaccompanied youth under 25 years old for the 2023-2025 grant cycle by providing street outreach, prevention assistance, coordinated entry, and rapid rehousing services.
MHFA awarded Ramsey County $3,288,018 for the specified grant period, or “Round 2,” which is in addition to current FHPAP funding of $6,590,000, totaling $9,878,018 for the 2023-2025 grant period. Ramsey County issued a solicitation via letter of interest to currently funded providers to expand homeless prevention projects.
The solicitation received seven respondents, of which six were awarded funding. Funded subgrantee agencies include:
1. American Indian Family Center
2. Merrick Community Services
3. Minnesota Community Care
4. Neighborhood House
5. Solid Ground
6. YMCA
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Examples of this include supporting a state plan to prevent and end homelessness which focuses on racial, housing and health justice, as well as providing funding commitments such as FHPAP. To further address the racial disparities that exist among Minnesotans experiencing homelessness, MHFA prioritizes working with grant administrators who will be successful in improving housing stability for communities disproportionately impacted by homelessness, including those who can provide culturally specific services.
Ramsey County received one letter of interest from a culturally specific provider that was selected for funding by the Heading Home Ramsey ranking committee. The American Indian Family Center specializes in serving American Indian/Indigenous households.
Ramsey County also prioritizes the Equity Focus prevention practice model as outlined in the 2023-2025 FHPAP Program Guide. The Equity Focus practice model employs strategies and responses that are attuned to the populations at greatest risk for homelessness. To effectively carry out Equity Focus, Ramsey County works with the Heading Home Ramsey CoC, FHPAP Advisory Committee and its subgrantees to develop and implement data-driven strategies to ensure interventions for homeless individuals and families are representative of the populations being served and culturally appropriate. Through this funding, subgrantees will concentrate efforts on neighborhoods and zip codes in Ramsey County with high levels of poverty and racial disparities which include 55104, 55106, and 55117.
Community Participation Level and Impact
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☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☒ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Round 2 grant funding of $3,288,018 will be awarded to six subgrantees. The total Round 2 budget is made up of two FHPAP funding sources: The Round 2 FHPAP Standard Grant of $3,005,633 and the Round 2 FHPAP Fast Track Grant of $282,385. In total, MHFA awarded Ramsey County $9,878,018 for the 2023-2025 grant period.
Last Previous Action
On September 9, 2023, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved a grant agreement with Minnesota Housing Finance Association for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program for the period of October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2025, in the amount of $6,590,000 (Resolution B2023-151).
Attachments
1. Ramsey County FHPAP 2024 Standard and Fast Track Funding Selection Letter
2. FHPAP Grant Contract Template 24-25_ Standard and Fast Track Round 2_Final
3. FHPAP_Exhibit B_ Work Plan 24-25_Standard Funds Round 2_Final
4. FHPAP_Exhibit C_ Work Plan_Fast Track Funds Round 2_Final
5. FHPAP Standard Budget Rd2_FinalFHPAP Fast Track Budget Rd2_Final
6. FHPAP Fast Track Budget Rd2_Final