Even after the historic legislative wins of 2023, there are significant needs in communities across Minnesota for continued capital investment in shelter, making new investments to create or preserve transitional housing, and continued investment into homelessness assistance programs. Our partners have identified vital policy solutions through engagement with communities most impacted; we join with them in lifting up these powerful solutions.
The priorities of MCH and our partners below will make crucial investments and policy solutions to address homelessness and hunger–every child, youth, adult, and family should have a home and no one should go to bed hungry.
Download the 2024 MCH Legislative Priorities
- $200M Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP)
- FUNDING REQUEST: $200M funding to meet the statewide need. 10% of the funding would be dedicated to tribal nations working together to address homelessness.
- Expand Income Protections for Housing Support Residents
- FUNDING REQUEST: Expanding 30% of income protections passed in the 2023 session to include General Assistance (GA) and individuals residing in Board and lodge settings.
- Partner-led priority by: Catholic Charities Twin Cities; Contact: Lorna.Schmidt@cctwincities.org | www.cctwincities.org
- Partner-led priority by: Catholic Charities Twin Cities; Contact: Lorna.Schmidt@cctwincities.org | www.cctwincities.org
- FUNDING REQUEST: Expanding 30% of income protections passed in the 2023 session to include General Assistance (GA) and individuals residing in Board and lodge settings.
- $50M Capital Investment in Shelter and Transitional Housing
- FUNDING REQUEST: $50M to enhance current shelters and generate new models to meet the needs that are culturally responsive, gender-affirming, accessible, and low-barrier; Note: Site-Based Transitional Housing will also be accepted as eligible use.
- Study on Pregnant and Parenting Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- FUNDING REQUEST: One-time funds for a research study on the state-wide numbers, and unique needs of pregnant and parenting youth experiencing homelessness
- Partner-led priority by: Youth Services Network; Contact: bholger@thelinkmn.org | www.ysnmn.org
- Partner-led priority by: Youth Services Network; Contact: bholger@thelinkmn.org | www.ysnmn.org
- FUNDING REQUEST: One-time funds for a research study on the state-wide numbers, and unique needs of pregnant and parenting youth experiencing homelessness
- Safe Harbor: Emergency Shelter and Housing
- FUNDING REQUEST: Increase of $20M: $12M for sustaining and expanding street outreach; $8M for Safe Harbor Supportive Services. In addition to the funding request, we support sustaining the full $1.76M increase of one-time funding in 2024-25.
- Partner-led priority by: Youth Services Network; Contact: bholger@thelinkmn.org | www.ysnmn.org
- Partner-led priority by: Youth Services Network; Contact: bholger@thelinkmn.org | www.ysnmn.org
- FUNDING REQUEST: Increase of $20M: $12M for sustaining and expanding street outreach; $8M for Safe Harbor Supportive Services. In addition to the funding request, we support sustaining the full $1.76M increase of one-time funding in 2024-25.
- Eliminate DHS Background Studies Requirement
- POLICY REQUEST: Eliminate the background studies requirement from Housing Support supportive housing and emergency shelter settings.
- Partner-led priority by: Hearth Connection; Contact: kristine@hearthconnection.org | www.linkedin.com/company/hearth-connection/
- Partner-led priority by: Hearth Connection; Contact: kristine@hearthconnection.org | www.linkedin.com/company/hearth-connection/
- POLICY REQUEST: Eliminate the background studies requirement from Housing Support supportive housing and emergency shelter settings.
- Simplify State Supportive Housing Resources
- POLICY REQUEST: Establish a workgroup composed of Representatives from state agencies,
including MN Housing and the Department of Human Services, along with community members.- Partner-led priority by: Hearth Connection; Contact: kristine@hearthconnection.org | www.linkedin.com/company/hearth-connection/
- Partner-led priority by: Hearth Connection; Contact: kristine@hearthconnection.org | www.linkedin.com/company/hearth-connection/
- POLICY REQUEST: Establish a workgroup composed of Representatives from state agencies,
- Increase SNAP Benefits for Seniors and Access for Students
- POLICY REQUEST #1: Clarify state law and allow more low-income, food-insecure students, and Pell-eligible students, access to SNAP.
- POLICY REQUEST #2: We propose to raise the minimum benefit for seniors 55 and older to $50 a month to ensure our most vulnerable households don’t go hungry.
- Partner-led priority by Hunger Solutions; Contact:pwoitock@hungersolutions.org | www.hungersolutions.org
MCH will also be following legislation regarding encampments to ensure it is meaningful, statewide, and supports people moving out of homelessness.
Contact: Matt Traynor at matt@mnhomelesscoalition.org
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Past Legislative Agendas
Download the 2023 MCH Policy Agenda Here
Download the 2022 MCH Legislative Agenda
Download the 2021 MCH Legislative Agenda
Download the 2020 MCH Legislative Agenda
Download the 2019 MCH Legislative Agenda
Download the 2018 MCH Legislative Agenda
Contact: Matt Traynor | matt@mnhomelesscoalition.org