BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A2110812 with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care Program to accept grant funds for the provision of rapid rehousing services for homeless families in the amount of $503,868, for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse the funds as directed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that sponsorship and acceptance of grant funding for this program by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners does not imply a continuing funding commitment by Hennepin County for this program when grant funds are no longer available.

Since 1995, Hennepin County has been awarded a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Grant for the provision of home finding services and rental assistance for homeless families. Most recently, this grant funding for the Family Rapid Rehousing program was renewed through Agreement A2010320 (Board Resolution 20­-0322 on September 1, 2020). Under special HUD renewal provisions due to the COVID pandemic, Hennepin County was re-awarded this grant for HUD program year 2020 (Agreement A2110812 in the receivable amount of $503,868 for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022). The award is for the provision of rapid rehousing services for families, in accordance with HUD and the Minneapolis/Hennepin County Continuum of Care funding priorities. The grant will be included in HSPH’s 2022 budget. There is a 25% cash match for this grant that will be provided through Hennepin County’s Emergency Assistance Program.

Hennepin County HSPH will contract with St. Stephen’s Human Services, Simpson Housing, and The Link for the provision of these services. Families being served by the rapid rehousing program have multiple barriers to housing. Families are assisted with locating and accessing housing while they are in shelter and transitioning to their new housing. Once in housing, families receive supportive services to help maintain housing stability, increase their incomes, and access community-based resources. The program's primary goal is that 80% of the families served will be stabilized in permanent, decent, affordable housing and will not return to county paid shelter for at least 12 months after housing placement services end. All school-aged children served in the program are connected with their school’s McKinney-Vento homeless liaison while in shelter to ensure that they are able to attend school regularly while in shelter and once the family moves into housing. 

Most recently reported annual outputs and outcomes:

210 households consisting of 265 adults and 447 children were served by the grant awarded for the period January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. In 2020, 77% of people successfully transitioned into permanent housing. Of those who exited the program to stable housing, 88% did not return to homelessness within 12 months.

Disparity reduction: This request reduces disparities in the housing domain by funding assistance and services that quickly move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. Most often these are people who are members of groups disparately impacted by homelessness and housing instability.