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Title:
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Grant Agreement with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care Planning Grant
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Sponsor: Housing Stability
Title
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Grant Agreement with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care Planning Grant
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Recommendation
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1. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care lead agency planning, upon execution of the grant, through August 31, 2026, in the amount of $171,420.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement, with revisions as approved by the Ramsey County Attorney's Office.
3. 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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South Metro Human Services (doing business as Radias Health) was awarded the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) Planning Grant in 2016. Serving only as the recipient of the grant, Radias Health sub-awarded this grant to Catholic Charities, which dedicated the funding toward a full-time Housing Assessor position for single adults and youth being served by the organization. During the COVID-19 pandemic, funding from the CoC Planning Grant was split between Catholic Charities and Minnesota Community Care (MCC). Catholic Charities continued to use its funding to employ a Housing Assessor, while MCC put its share of the grant toward hiring a Community Engagement/Mobile Assessor.
In 2023, both sub-recipient organizations decided they no longer wished to administer the HUD CoC Planning Grant. To preserve funding, the Ramsey County Housing Stability Department (HSD) met with administrators from HUD to discuss options and was permitted to take over the HUD CoC Planning Grant originally awarded to South Metro Human Services. Ramsey County HSD accepted the grant in November of 2024, and funding was used to hire two new Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions to support the Ramsey County Coordinated Entry for Youth and Singles (CEYS) program.
The $171,420 will continue to support the two FTEs working on the CEYS program. CEYS is the direct assistance priority list management team serving youth and single adults. CEYS assists clients with accessing assessment points, communicating list placement, matching clients to housing referrals, assisting with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) needs, troubleshooting match needs, and sending and receiving housing referrals to and from providers. Additionally, work to support this team includes:
* Assisting clients with accessing CEYS assessment entry points and determining eligibility, including being certified to administer and complete new assessments and assessment updates.
* Communicating and clarifying housing needs.
* Assisting with client documentation.
* Navigating client to potential mainstream housing options.
* Coordinating potential matches with housing referrals and provider partners with CEYS Priority List Managers.
* Supporting Housing Support principles and advocacy for clients with community partners and providers.
* Assisting with HMIS needs and updates.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
? Well-being ? Prosperity ? Opportunity ? Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
HSD is committed to serving unsheltered Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), as this is the largest population affected by homelessness in Ramsey County. From a recent Ramsey County Board report in 2024, among those experiencing homelessness, 45% identified as African American, 17% as American Indian/Alaska Native, 36% as White, and 5% as Asian American.
Community Participation Level and Impact
As a part of the 2024 Needs Assessment, in-depth interviews were completed with 32 individuals across the Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care. These included program managers, client-facing staff, and clients or program participants. Interviews represented a multitude of racial, ethnic, and gender identities. From these interviews, 9 themes were generated describing the present state of the CoC and demonstrating differences in experiences and perceptions. These themes and findings are being used in the present strategic planning process to attain greater equity and inclusion in the CoC.
? Inform ? Consult ? Involve ? Collaborate ? Empower
Fiscal Impact
The $171,420 grant award will be used to support the Ramsey County Coordinated Entry (CEYS) Program. This funding is included in the Housing Stability Department's 2025 and will be included in the proposed 2026-2027 operating budget.
Last Previous Action
On November 26, 2024, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved a grant agreement with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care Planning Grant (Resolution B2024-252).
Attachments
1. Ramsey County 2025 Continuum of Care Grant Agreement
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