MCH Wins State Funding to Support Southeast Minnesota in its Efforts to End Homelessness
MCH advocates for policies that promote a comprehensive, flexible, and appropriate community response to homelessness, and advocates for all populations (e.g. unaccompanied youth, single adults, families) and communities statewide (e.g. rural, urban, and suburban). We made considerable progress in our work to improve conditions for persons experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness in the Southeast Continuum of Care (CoC). (The CoC system is a community-based plan to organize and deliver housing and services to reduce the incidence of homelessness in an area). The successes of the 2007 Legislative Session include:
Homelessness Prevention Funding Doubled
Governor Pawlenty, House and Senate leaders, and MCH all proposed doubling the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program’s (FHPAP) permanent resources from $7.43 million to $14.93 million. That’s exactly what we got. This nationally-recognized approach for preventing homelessness will now help even more families.
- First-time funding of $400,000 was granted to Blue Earth/Region 9 in Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties for 2008-09.
- Funding increased for the SE MN Housing Network in Dodge, Freeborn, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmstead, Rice, Steele, Wabasha,and Winona Counties from $400,000 in 2006-07 to $700,000 for 2008-09.
- Together, these organizations make up the area’s Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance grantees. As a result of the increased funding, service providers in the area will be able to provide assistance to more single adults and families to receive assistance for rent, utility payment, and transportation expenses.
The “$125 SSI Penalty” Repealed
Full MFIP grants will be restored on 2/1/08 for families with disabled family members receiving Social Security Disability (SSI) benefits. This changes the current practice of cutting a family’s Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) grant by $125 per month for each disabled family member who receives SSI benefits.
- Approximately 7,000 families in Minnesota who were affected by the $125 SSI penalty will be receiving their full MFIP grant. In three quarters of the families affected by the penalty, a parent was receiving SSI money for disabilities who may not reasonably have been expected to earn that extra $125 per month to make up for the penalty.
The Runaway & Homeless Youth Act Received $1 Million
Last year, the Legislature passed language reasserting the State has a responsibility to serve unaccompanied youth – youth often left homeless due to abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation. This year, the Legislature appropriated $1 million to pay for services these youth need to become stable.
- While unaccompanied youth funding is not yet dispersed, southeast Minnesota providers have funding targeted toward youth in the region that could benefit from this increase.
Rental Assistance for Mentally Ill Received $2 Million Increase
Federal rental assistance is in high demand and short supply. The Governor recommended and the Legislature agreed that “Bridges” funding should increase to help those at risk of homelessness who have a severe and persistent mental illness as they await a federal subsidy.
- A new Bridges program in Blue Earth County will serve six families.
The Police / Provider Homeless Outreach Project Received Funding
Once a pilot project, now a proven state program, the Homeless Outreach Project received $300,000.
- The Coalition is working on an initiative to expand the outreach project into a state-wide program.
Shelter, Transitional Housing Get One-time Increases
Emergency Shelter received a $600,000 one-time bump. Transitional Housing received an added $750,000. The Long-term Homeless Pilot was consolidated into the Long-term Homeless Services Fund. Advocates will return next year to make the one-time funds permanent and to secure full, 2nd-year funding for the Long-term Homeless Services Fund. Continued funding was awarded to the following programs in the Southeast CoC:
- The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Rochester, The Salvation Army, and Women’s Shelter, Inc in Rochester.
- Partners for Affordable Housing and Theresa House in Mankato.
- The Community Action Center in Northfield.
- Houston County Women’s Resources in Hokah.
- Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton.
- Red Wing Area Transitional Housing Coalition in Red Wing.
- Semcac in Rushford.
- Steele County Transitional Housing, Inc. in Owatonna.
- Three Rivers Community Action, Inc. in Zumbrota
Long-term Homeless Services Gets One-Time Increase
$12 million was granted for Long-term Homeless Services. Advocates won full funding for the first year of the biennium and will return next year to fill any gap in 2nd-year funding.
- Southeast and South central Minnesota, Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Olmsted, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties, received $1,757,000 in DHS Supportive Services Grant Funds for support services to assist people experiencing long-term homelessness to find and maintain housing.