HF 1644

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/13/2025 06:43 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to human services; funding family supportive housing programs;
appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin FAMILY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services must
establish a family supportive housing grant program to award competitive grants to eligible
applicants operating supportive housing for families.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
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new text begin (b) "Family" means a nontemporary household unit that includes at least one child and
one parent or legal guardian.
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new text begin (c) "Family permanent supportive housing" means housing that:
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new text begin (1) is not time limited;
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new text begin (2) is affordable for those at or below 30 percent of the area median income;
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new text begin (3) offers specialized support services to residents tailored to the needs of children and
families; and
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new text begin (4) is available to families with multiple barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing,
including but not limited to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; those with
mental illness, substance use disorders, and other disabilities; and those referred by child
protection services.
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new text begin (d) "Resident" means a resident of family permanent supportive housing.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant must be
a nonprofit organization or Tribal government operating family permanent supportive
housing.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application and administration. new text end

new text begin (a) When applying to the commissioner for
a grant under this section, each applicant must include the number of families they estimate
to serve.
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new text begin (b) An eligible grantee shall receive $15,000 per family to provide the services described
in subdivision 6. Up to available appropriations, the commissioner must award grant money
to eligible grantees based on the estimated number of families served. The commissioner
must use best efforts to ensure that 60 percent of the families served are within the
seven-county metropolitan area and 40 percent of the families served are outside the
seven-county metropolitan area. The commissioner must use best efforts to ensure that ten
percent of the overall families served are members of Minnesota's Tribal Nations.
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new text begin (c) By June 30, 2026, each grantee must provide a report to the commissioner on how
many families the grantee served and what services the grantee provided.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Eligible uses of grant money. new text end

new text begin An eligible applicant that receives grant money
under this section must use the money for the services described in subdivision 6.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Specialized family support services. new text end

new text begin Specialized family support services are
nonmandatory, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate services designed to help family
residents maintain secure, dignified housing and provide a safe, stable environment for
children. Services provided may include but are not limited to:
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new text begin (1) age-appropriate child-centric services for education and enrichment;
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new text begin (2) stabilization services such as:
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new text begin (i) educational assessment and referrals to educational programs;
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new text begin (ii) career planning, work skills training, job placement, and employment retention;
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new text begin (iii) budgeting and money management;
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new text begin (iv) referral for counseling regarding violence and sexual exploitation;
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new text begin (v) referral for medical or psychiatric services or substance use disorder treatment;
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new text begin (vi) parenting skills training;
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new text begin (vii) self-sufficiency support services or life skills training, including tenant education
and support to sustain housing; and
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new text begin (viii) aftercare and follow-up services; and
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new text begin (3) 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week on-site staffing, including but not limited to front
desk and security.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; FAMILY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING GRANT
PROGRAM.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
human services for the family supportive housing grant program. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
new text end