THANK YOU!
Our hats are off to YOU!
The team at Hearth Connection would like to thank everyone who gave their time and energy to the effort this legislative session! By making calls to your legislators, following updates, visiting the Capitol, and promoting the issue on social media, your action underscored the importance of programs serving people experiencing homelessness.
Several big things were accomplished this year that simply could not have been done without the support of citizen advocates and community members. It is your voices that give policy matters momentum at the Legislature.
We would also like to recognize the following organizations for their leadership and contributions to key policy issues this year:
And we would like to specifically recognize the following Legislators for their direct support of our efforts to secure additional resources for the Minnesota Long-Term Homeless Supportive Services Fund:
Rep. Diane Anderson (Eagan - R)
Rep. Erin Murphy (St. Paul - DFL)
Rep. Jim Abeler (Anoka - R)
Rep. Tom Huntley (Duluth - DFL)
Rep. Tina Liebling (Rochester - DFL)
Sen. Sean Nienow (Cambridge - R)
Sen. Julie Rosen (Fairmont - R)
Sen. Jeff Hayden (Minneapolis - DFL)
Sen. Tony Lourey (Kerrick - DFL)
Sen. David Hann (Eden Prairie - R)
Check out some of the good things that happened this session in the articles below. Cheers!
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Affordable Housing Bonds Passed!
Affordable and public housing received a boost this year! Thanks to the hard work of housing and homelessness advocates around the state, bonds for affordable housing infrastructure were included in the final bonding bill.
In one of the last days before the State Legislature adjourned, the bonding bill was passed with $35.5 million included for affordable housing bonds. Thirty million dollars was authorized for housing infrastructure bonds, which may be used for supportive housing, foreclosure remediation efforts, and preservation of federally assisted, privately-owned rental housing. The remaining $5.5 million will be invested in general obligation bonds for the rehabilitation of public housing. An additional $2 million will go towards the Tubman Center East in Maplewood, a family domestic violence center.
The investment in affordable housing bonds--even passage of the bonding bill itself--was less than certain earlier in the legislative session. Proposals from the Governor and House and Senate Committees around March recommended bonds for affordable housing ranging from $15 to $36 million.
While organizations across the state rallied around the need for affordable housing, your voice made it a priority in the final bonding bill. In a video the House floor, Representative Alice Hausman recognized the dedication of affordable housing proponents and thanked them for their work; click here to watch the short video clip.
Advocates from the homeless and affordable housing communities worked together this year to carry out a coordinated legislative strategy. The Homes for All campaign will remain organized and prepare for joint legislative action in 2013.
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Supportive Housing for Families Receives Funding
The Health and Human Services Finance Omnibus bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Dayton included an additional $200,000 for the Long-Term Homeless Supportive Services Fund (LTHSSF). The LTHSSF funds services for households in supportive housing throughout five regions in the state.
The $200K in TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) reserve resources will be used to stabilize families experiencing long-term homelessness in supportive housing programs in fiscal year 2013. It will also help offset the loss of state funding during the last legislative session. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) will now decide how the funds will be distributed among the five regional collaboratives that receive LTHSSF funding. Once this decision is made, Hearth Connection will be able to determine how these funds are granted to community-based organizations and teams offering supportive housing services.
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Child Homelessness Addressed in New Act
The Visible Child Work Group Act was passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Dayton at the end of April. This Act creates a working group to assess and outline the unmet developmental needs of young children (infants and toddlers) who are homeless. It was championed by a strong group of advocates and many organizations.
The Minnesota Visible Child Work Group will identify and recommend issues that should be addressed in a statewide, comprehensive plan to improve the well-being of children who are homeless or have experienced homelessness. The Work Group will include Legislators, State Agency representatives, business leaders, homeless service providers, and consumers and will report back to the Legislature in December.
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MN Benefit Applications Now Online
Great Tool for Case Managers!
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) launched a new online system that enables Minnesotans to apply for a variety of assistance programs online. The new online system allows users to apply for programs such as SNAP or General Assistance from any computer with internet access, and users can apply for several programs using the same application.
Minnesotans can now apply online for:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly referred to as Food Support or the federal Food Stamp Program)
- Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare
- Cash assistance programs including the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), General Assistance (GA), Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA), etc.
- Emergency assistance
- Family planning and child care assistance programs
- Breast and cervical cancer coverage
Once users fill out the online application, it is sent to a state, county, or tribal worker for review. Households can still fill out a paper application if desired; ApplyMN just adds an online option for people planning to apply.
For additional information about ApplyMN, please visit Minnesota Human Services Online. A screening tool from Bridge to Benefits also helps households determine if they qualify for assistance programs.
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Upcoming National Conference
The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) will host its annual National Conference on Ending Homelessness this summer. The conference will be:
July 16 (Monday) through July 18 (Wednesday)
The Renaissance Hotel,
999 Ninth Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001
There will a federal policy Hill Day on Wednesday, July 18. For more information and to register, please click here.
