HF 1450

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing homeless outreach grant program;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 299A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [299A.201] HOMELESS OUTREACH GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall establish a
grant program to connect people experiencing homelessness to housing and services for
purposes of reducing recidivism and promoting stronger communities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant recipients. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, in consultation with the director
of ending long-term homelessness, the Ending Long-Term Homelessness Advisory
Council, and the Office of Economic Opportunity of the Department of Human Services,
shall award grants to agencies experienced in homeless outreach services and provide
needed staff qualified to work with people with serious mental illness or chemical
dependency, and employ outreach staff who are trained and qualified to work with racially
and culturally diverse populations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Project design. new text end

new text begin Projects eligible for grants under this section must:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide outreach services that may be targeted to, but are not limited to, people
experiencing long-term homelessness and homeless people who have had repeated
interactions with law enforcement;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide outreach services that will provide intervention strategies linking people
to housing and services as an alternative to arrest;
new text end

new text begin (3) provide a plan to connect people experiencing homelessness to services for
which they may be eligible, such as Supplemental Security Income, veterans benefits,
health care, housing assistance, and long-term support programs for those with significant
barriers to living on their own;
new text end

new text begin (4) demonstrate partnership or collaboration with local law enforcement, which may
include joint application for homeless outreach grants, joint sharing in administration of
the grant, development of protocol defining when outreach workers are called upon,
and shared training opportunities;
new text end

new text begin (5) promote community collaboration with local and county governments, social
services providers, mental health crisis providers, and other community organizations
that address homelessness;
new text end

new text begin (6) provide a plan to leverage resources from the entities listed in clause (5) and other
private sources to accomplish the goal of moving people into housing and services; and
new text end

new text begin (7) provide a plan to measure and evaluate the program's effectiveness in connecting
people experiencing homelessness to housing and services and reducing the use of public
safety and corrections resources.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Annual report. new text end

new text begin Grant recipients shall report to the commissioner by June
30 of each year on the services and programs provided, expenditures of grant money,
and an evaluation of the program's success in connecting individuals experiencing
homelessness to housing and services, and reducing the use of public safety and
corrections resources.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $2,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund for the biennium ending June 30,
2009, to the commissioner of public safety for purposes of section 1.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 and 2 are effective July 1, 2007.
new text end