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Blog Picks
Let Data Drive Action by Hearth Connection staff with contributions from Ben Van Hunnik, former Director of Information, Research & Evaluation at Hearth Connection
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Hearth Connection
2446 University Ave West
St. Paul, Minnesota 55114
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We hope you're doing well and enjoying summer! The Hearth Connection team is happy to offer some news and organizational updates below:
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New Staff: Lara and Paul Join Hearth Connection
We're happy to have two new additions to the team!
Paul Carlson  recently joined Hearth Connection as the Director of Quality and Evaluation. Paul will lead the organization's research and evaluation efforts, including overseeing quality and information infrastructure. Read more about Paul and find his contact information here.
 Lara Mueller joined Hearth Connection in June as our new Rental Assistance Technician. She oversees rental assistance administration, reconciliations, and compliance for MHFA and HUD grants. Read more about Lara and find her contact information here.
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Survey: Progress on Action Steps
Last spring, we asked all service partners and Co-Pilot users to provide feedback on our value and ways we can better support our partners. We compiled the results and sent a summary of the findings to all respondents in July. Based on your input, we identified several steps to improve support of our partners.
Current progress on action steps include:
- In conjunction with the Regional Managers, Hearth Connection's Rental Assistance Technician is focusing on quick responses and timely resolution of Co-Pilot rental assistance questions from service partners.
- We are exploring ways to offer online access to forms, rental assistance documents, announcements, and other resources.
- We are facilitating discussions on long-term homeless services with community representatives and experts in the field, utilizing flexible service level data from Co-Pilot.
To request a copy of the survey results summary or provide feedback at any time, please email us.
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Homes for All Update
The Homes for All coalition is beginning to discuss policy initiatives and strategies for the 2015 session. Due to advocates' tireless actions, community members' involvement, and policymakers' commitment to housing, Minnesota achieved new investments for affordable housing in the 2014 legislative session.
With the upcoming appropriations ("budget") year, the Homes for All coalition will continue to push for policy initiatives that lead to housing stability for all Minnesotans. Hearth Connection is proud to be a partner in Homes for All, and we're looking forward to working with you in the 2015 session to advocate for policies that protect and support our state's most vulnerable households.
If your organization hasn't officially joined the Homes for All coalition, please take a moment to learn more about the campaign and consider an endorsement.
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Federal Policy Updates
New Secretary of HUD
Julián Castro was sworn in as the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at the end of July. Nominated by President Obama for the position, Castro previously served as the mayor of San Antonio, Texas.
Shaun Donovan, former HUD Secretary, left the position to become Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
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HUD Encourages CoCs to Prioritize Permanent Supportive Housing for Chronic Homeless Population
HUD recently issued a notice encouraging communities to target permanent supportive housing resources toward people experiencing chronic homelessness.
In an effort to ensure limited permanent supportive housing (PSH) resources are being utilized most effectively and not on a first-come, first-serve basis, the notice from HUD outlined an order of priority for PSH beds. Households who are experiencing chronic homelessness and have the most severe service needs--i.e. people with a history of high utilization of crisis services, who meet the federal definition of chronic homelessness, or have significant health challenges--are given higher priority for enrollment in PSH programs.
The notice from HUD "strongly encourages" CoCs to adopt the order of priority by incorporating it into written standards and Coordinated Assessment systems to ensure all CoC-funded PSH programs are using the same priorities for enrollment.
For more information, read a summary of the notice from NLIHC or the official notice from HUD.
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Homeless Children and Youth Act Could Expand HUD Definition of Homelessness
The Act would expand the homeless definition in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to more closely match definitions used by the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies and statutes, as well as purportedly reducing some documentation requirements. Introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Feinstein, Portman, and Begich, and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Stivers and Miller, the bill has bipartisan backing.
According the website helphomelesskidsnow.org, the Homeless Children and Youth Act is supported by a number of organizations including the National Coalition for the Homeless, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP), and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
Learn more about the Act and take action to support it.
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Highlights on Best Practices:
Share your Stories on "What Works"
Hearth Connection's staff appreciates the incredible work service providers do to build relationships with participants and empower them to maintain housing and build life skills. Every team has unique strengths, and we're interested in finding ways to share tips and resources among providers.
Do you have a story about finding and securing a housing unit for a participant with especially high barriers to housing? Have you discovered a creative way to implement Harm Reduction with a participant, or to encourage productivity? Email us a short (or long, it's up to you) story about what you've found "works" in challenging situations, and we may use it in future newsletters or in an online resource area for providers.
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Annual Report Now Available
Our 2013 annual report is now online, featuring accomplishments, organizational finances, and more. We know that our best asset in our work is you, and we're grateful for your contributions to our shared successes last year. Thank you for your work, support, and collaboration to end long-term homelessness.
If you have any feedback or would like to receive a hard copy of the report, please let us know.
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Events
5th Annual Chip-In To End Homelessness Charity Golf Tournament
Sept 12, 1:00 PM at Deer Run Golf Club, Victoria
A fun event hosted by the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless and Metro-wide Engagement on Shelter & Housing (MESH). Register for yourself or get three friends together and save on registration.
Sept 15-16 at Mayo Civic Center, Rochester
MCH's conference offers a variety of sessions focusing on this year's theme of Connections: Housing, Income Stability, and Mental Health.
Kelby Grovender, Hearth Connection's Program Director, will be leading a breakout session regarding work and productivity in supportive housing for long-term homeless households. Click for more information and to register.
Sept 24, 4:30 - 6 PM (happy hour to follow from 6-7 PM) at Minnesota Housing Presented by the Emerging Leaders in Community Development, a panel will debate whether an increase in property values is good for low-income communities. Register here. |
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Thank you for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Charlie Cook
Hearth Connection
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