Sponsor: Housing Stability
Title
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Grant Award from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Division for the Community Living Infrastructure Grant
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Division for the Community Living Infrastructure Grant for $1,006,810.
2. Accept a grant and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Division for the Community Living Infrastructure Grant upon execution of the grant through June 30, 2027, in the amount of $400,000.
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 in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
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Background and Rationale
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In 2018, Ramsey County was awarded funding under the Housing Support grant, Community Living Infrastructure (CLI) to: increase housing support programming capacity, provide technical assistance to new and culturally specific providers, build infrastructure to develop a monitoring program, and improve the county's response time to individuals who are struggling to navigate pathways to housing. By 2019, the Housing Stability department had hired two staff for the CLI Program: a Housing Resource Specialist and a Planning Specialist. Staff developed new Housing Support projects and settings, including culturally specific/minority owned providers.
In 2020, the CLI grant played a crucial role in the county’s response to COVID-19 among the homeless. Staff facilitated the development of wrap-around services and housing support for individuals in the emergency hotel shelter programs. For the 2021-2023 grant period, the Department of Human Services (DHS) awarded the county with its current CLI positions, plus an additional Housing Resource Specialist position to meet the goals of increasing housing opportunities, improving provider support, and being more responsive to program participants and community needs.
An amendment was provided to the Housing Stability Department (HSD), adding $534,091 and extending the time of the grant award through June 30, 2025. Funding provided continued to support the administration of the Housing Support program. For this current biennium, HSD applied for funding to include the addition of two staff members to the department. HSD received a total of $400,000 for the Housing Support program, which will fund its two current Planning Specialists dedicated to providing direct service coordination, technical assistance, and training to Housing Support providers across the County.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Through this funding, CLI Program staff support housing support participants and providers while expanding access to programs that reflect the diverse needs of individuals exiting shelter. The funding is also used to address systemic inequities that contribute to barriers in housing stability. Housing Resource Specialists track and identify episodes of homelessness at entry and exit of Housing Support settings. The program applies an equity lens by intentionally addressing systemic barriers that historically marginalized populations face when accessing public assistance and housing support services. By embedding services in trusted community spaces, it ensures individuals with lived experience of homelessness are connected with benefits in a low-barrier, supportive environment.
The CLI Program also strengthens processes for participants to contact the county regarding access, vendor concerns, or the need for additional wrap-around resources. This information is used to help us track issues and highlight disparities affecting historically underserved communities. The tracking of this information is critical in helping us find solutions to address disparities that affect Ramsey County residents seeking housing supports.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Individuals with lived experience of homelessness and housing instability are essential partners in shaping effective service delivery. Their feedback, along with input from onsite staff, consistently underscores the value of meeting people where they are-particularly for those who encounter barriers to accessing traditional service centers.
Planning Specialists also gather and respond to concerns from participants, community members, and county staff. These interactions provide direct, real-time insights that have informed policy refinements and strengthened program fidelity. This continuous feedback loop ensures that community voices and lived expertise directly influence service improvements, resulting in more responsive and equitable housing support.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☒ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Funding for this grant is included in the 2025 budget and in the proposed 2026-2027 budget.
Last Previous Action
On July 11, 2023, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to the grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services for Housing Support Infrastructure (Resolution B2023-102).
Attachments
1. Minnesota Department of Human Services Community Living Infrastructure Grant Contract