Sponsor: Housing Stability
Title
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Grant Award from the Minnesota Department of Human Services for Housing Support Infrastructure
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Minnesota Department of Human Services Housing and Support Services Division, Community Living Infrastructure Program in the amount of $429,126 for capacity building and administration of the Housing Support Program.
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services for Housing Support Program infrastructure for the period of August 2, 2022 through March 31, 2024, in the amount of $429,126.
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 2017, the Minnesota Legislature passed a comprehensive housing package, adding language to the Minnesota Housing Support Act (Chapter 256I), to increase Housing Support Program infrastructure for counties and tribes to support people with disabling conditions to live in the community. The Housing Support Program (formerly known as Group Residential Housing) pays for room and board to approved vendors on behalf of seniors and adults with disabilities who have low income. The Housing Support Program aims to reduce and prevent people from living in institutions or becoming homeless. Counties are responsible for approving vendors, creating program models and priorities based on local need and develop a monitoring program to review vendor performance.
In 2018, Ramsey County was awarded funding under the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Housing Support grant, Community Living Infrastructure to:
• Increase housing support programming capacity.
• Provide technical assistance to new and culturally specific providers.
• Build infrastructure to develop a monitoring program.
• Improve the county response time to individuals who are struggling to navigate pathways to housing.
By 2019, the county hired two staff for the Community Living Infrastructure Program: a Housing Resource Specialist and a Planning Specialist. Staff developed new housing support projects and settings by prioritizing culturally specific/minority owned providers.
In 2021, the Community Living Infrastructure grant played a vital role in the county’s homeless COVID response efforts. The Housing Stability department facilitated the development of wrap-around services and housing support for individuals in the COVID emergency hotel shelter programs. Due to this work, DHS awarded Ramsey County funding for current positions, a Planning Specialist and a Housing Resource Specialist and approved a new Housing Resource Specialist position.
For this current grant, DHS received temporary COVID-relief federal funds during the 2021 legislative session and released a Request for Proposal in April 2022. The Housing Stability department applied and was awarded bonus infrastructure development funds that will be used to support one temporary Planning Specialist, one temporary Outreach Worker and applied toward supervision costs. The temporary infrastructure development positions will operate from the period of August 2, 2022, to March 31, 2024.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Additional Community Living Infrastructure program staff will support Housing Support Program participants, current providers, and expand options for culturally specific programs for those exiting out of shelter and those impacted by the end of the COVID eviction moratorium. The additional funding will help to address systematic racial inequities in our community. The new Planning Specialist will identify exits to Housing Support Programs from Ramsey County operated shelters. This work will inform the Housing Stability department regarding issues with accessing the program and system improvements including identifying the locations and types of housing and providers needed in the community. The Outreach Worker will connect with individuals directly in local shelters and the Saint Paul Opportunity Center - assisting them with applying for state and federal benefits, increasing their income and access to housing with supports. The Supervisor will monitor who is being served by the program and will increase partnerships of culturally specific providers and landlords. This information will help track issues and highlight disparities that are impacting under-represented communities, thus initiating the 2021-2023 Program goal to update best practice and develop race and health equity-based policies.
Community Participation Level and Impact
In 2019, the Ramsey County Community Living Infrastructure Program completed an engagement survey and several interviews with both recipients of the program and providers. When surveyed, Long Term Homeless Housing Support vendors expressed “relief and gratitude” that Ramsey County is working on housing support process issues. The group recommended that Ramsey County continue to build relationships among providers and participants by creating integrated working groups and pursue process improvements to make the system work smoother for everyone. A work group was developed with the following goals:
• Current and prospective providers understand Housing Support Program requirements.
• Continue to build understanding of housing issues through community engagement and public communication.
• Needs and gaps in housing services are identified and targeted through Community Living Infrastructure Program efforts.
In 2020, 49 individuals were interviewed about their stay in the Ramsey County COVID emergency hotel shelter program and below are findings about the wrap-around services and housing support programs that were supported by the Community Living Infrastructure Program:
• 90% were very satisfied with the services.
• Over 450 individuals found housing.
• “I learned about housing vouchers and staff help connect the dots with people that could help me.”
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
This funding will provide revenue for temporary staffing costs, including training, travel, equipment, and office space. These funds will increase the revenue and expense budget for 2022. The spending will occur from 2022-2024.
Last Previous Action
On July 20, 2021, the Ramsey County Board approved a Community Living Infrastructure agreement in the amount of $1,004,920 (Resolution B2021-163).
Attachments
1. Community Living Infrastructure 2022 Grant Application
2. Minnesota Department of Human Services County Grant Contract