The Heading Home Newsletter was created as a way to continually update those who have an interest in and/or play a crucial part in St. Louis County's Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Each issue will feature articles and updates about key events and issues affecting the progress of this initiative.

May 2008 Newsletter.pdf

St. Louis County received grants from the Minnesota Housing Partnership and the Northland Foundation to undertake a planning process to develop a county-wide 10-year plan to end homelessness. A committee was formed to analyze the current state of the homeless problem in St. Louis County and to develop a comprehensive plan.

The end result is a county-wide plan which lays out clear goals and specific action plans that address root causes and provide permanent solutions. The  Heading Home St Louis County- A Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness.pdf was recently adopted by the St Louis County Board of Commissioners. This plan is the guide for future resource allocation around the issue of homelessness in St. Louis County.

In 1993, the Minnesota Legislature established the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program to assist families who are homeless or at risk for homelessness. FHPAP is administered by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and represents a preventative approach to homelessness.

Legislation established a set of desired outcomes concerning the prevention of homelessness, including shortening the length of stay in emergency housing, and eliminating repeated periods of homelessness among families. This program, funded on a biennial basis, is designed to encourage and support innovation at the local, county, and regional level, to redesign the existing response system to homelessness, or to establish a comprehensive system.

FHPAP initiatives in St. Louis County provide three critical services. These are flex funds which can be used for deposits, moving expenses and other costs necessary to access and maintain permanent housing; stabilization services; and housing resource services. St. Louis County contracts with seven nonprofit agencies to provide these services across the county. In the first year of funding, stabilization services were able to prevent 79% of households served from becoming homeless.
St. Louis County Annual Report 2006 Final .pdf 

For more information contact Sheri Simmons 218-348-4941.

The SuperNOFA Supportive Housing Program is designed to promote the development of supportive housing and supportive services to assist homeless persons in the transition from homelessness and to enable them to live as independently as possible.

Applicants may propose projects under five components: (1) transitional housing; (2) permanent housing; (3) safe havens; (4) supportive services only, and (5) innovative supportive housing. Eligible applicants are: states, local governments, other governmental entities, tribes and Indian housing authorities, private nonprofit organizations and community mental health associations. The Supportive Housing Program application process begins with the publication of a Notice of Financial Assistance (NOFA) in the Federal Register. The NOFA gives application details and deadlines. Applications must be submitted by the deadline in the NOFA.   It is a three year funding period.

SuperNOFA Shelter Plus Care

The Shelter Plus Care Program provides rental housing assistance in connection with supportive services to persons in permanent housing. Applicants may propose projects for rental assistance in four areas: (1) tenant-based; (2) sponsor-based; (3) project-based, and (4) SRO- based.  Eligible applicants include: states, local government, tribes, and Public Housing Agencies (PHA's.)  This program is designed to serve persons with a disability who are homeless and their families; homeless persons who are seriously mentally ill and/or have dual diagnosis chemical dependency; and persons who have AIDS and related diseases. Information related to notification, application process and deadline is the same as for the Supportive Housing Program. The funding cycle under Shelter Plus Care is 5 years.

Continuum of Care Information Bulletin.pdf

For more information please call Laura DeRosier, 218-725-5236