Read up on supportive housing & Child Study in article from Hearth staff
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Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
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Thank you, Debbie Madson!
Hearth Connection would like to recognize Deborah Madson for a recent contribution made in honor of her volunteer service. Debbie joined Hearth Connection's Board of Directors last May, and we're very grateful for contributions of time and deep knowledge of health care systems.
Because of Debbie's volunteer service, Hearth Connection received $250 in April from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. As a Blue Cross employee, Debbie is eligible for a Dollars for Doers contribution, which was given because she volunteered 40+ hours this year. Thank you Debbie!
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Hearth Connection
2446 University Ave West
St. Paul, Minnesota 55114
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Final weeks of the legislative session!
The Legislature is nearing its wrap-up date on May 19. Featured below are current policy proposals affecting housing and homeless services, and other updates:
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Update on the LTHSSF
SF1013, a bill authored by Senator Hayden to increase investment in long-term homeless services, received a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee-Health and Human Services Division at the end of March. Charlie Cook, Hearth Connection's Executive Director, testified at the hearing. After being amended to include $1.2 million in additional funding for the LTHSSF, the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Health and Human Services bill. Unfortunately, it was not included in the omnibus bill.
Although the measure did not pass this year, we believe support for the bill positions it well for the next legislative session (a budget year). Thank you for supporting this bill and for any calls, emails, letters, meetings, or other conversations with your representatives regarding investment in homeless services-with your voices, we are demonstrating the value and effectiveness of services. We continue to look forward to working with legislators and advocates on opportunities to increase resources for lasting solutions that break the cycle of homelessness.
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Homes for All Bonding Update
Housing has a lot of positive momentum at the Capitol, but the work isn't done. The House included $100 million for housing in its bonding and cash bills-the largest amount ever proposed for affordable housing bonds and $50m more than what the Governor proposed! The bonding money could be leveraged with other city, state, and private funds to build and preserve affordable housing units, addressing the great need seen in every corner of the state.
The Senate bonding bill has not been released yet, so the investment in housing bonds is still uncertain.
Hashtags and housing:
show your support on social media!
From now until the end of April, the Homes for All coalition is promoting a social media campaign to increase awareness and support for $100 million in housing bonds.
Join the "blitz!" This week, take a picture or "selfie" of yourself or staff while holding a sign saying "H ome is __(fill in blank)__. I support Homes for All." Post the picture on your Twitter or Facebook pages with messages supporting $100 million in housing bonds. Hashtags: #Homes4AllMN #bond4housing
More details on the social media campaign are available here.
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Bill Watch
HF2203/SF2194 Homeless Youth Act
Both bills providing additional funding for homeless youth services have been passed in the House and Senate, and they are included in the omnibus supplemental budget bills. As they currently stand, both bills provide an additional $1 million (approx.) annually for the Homeless Youth Act in FY2015-17. The final investment will be determined in conference committee.
Adult mental health grants and housing services
The Senate omnibus bill includes restored funding to Adult Mental Health Grants cut in the last legislative session. Funding increases would be targeted towards housing and supportive services for people with serious mental illnesses. The Senate proposed $1 million for these grants in FY2015, but the House and Governor did not include any additional funding in their proposals.
Group Residential Housing (GRH)
The House allocated $266,000 in FY2015 and $2.7 million in FY16-17 in its omnibus bill. Group Residential Housing did not receive any additional allocations in the Senate bill or Governor's proposal.
Safe Harbor Act
Both the House and Senate included about half a million in funding in FY2015 for the Safe Harbor Act, a law that provides protections for sexually exploited youth (House included $569k). The House and Senate also included $1 million for the Safe Harbor Act in FY16-17 in their omnibus bills.
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Hearth Connection Looks to the Future
Following Hearth Connection's tradition of innovation in homeless services, we will be engaging partners throughout the state to look to future innovations, identifying value and focusing on results. Using existing data and new models like Coordinated Assessment as a backdrop, meetings will be set up for various partners and stakeholders to further define and explore what services should look like for people who are experiencing or facing homelessness in our state. Following our flexible services model, Hearth Connection will use the ideas gathered to develop additional ways to better serve participants in our program and to contribute to the housing field. Watch for invitations this Spring and Summer! Join us and share your ideas to improve services.
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Opening at Hearth - Rental Assistance Administration
Hearth Connection is looking for candidates for the open position in rental assistance administration to manage HUD and MHFA grants.
Service partners, if you have any questions about rental assistance or administering subsidies in Co-Pilot, please feel free to contact your Regional Manager: Metro | North | South
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Thank you for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Charlie Cook
Hearth Connection
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