1999 Minnesota Statutes

     256.9751 Congregate housing services projects. 

    Subdivision 1.    Definitions.  For the purposes of this 
 section, the following terms have the meanings given them.  

    (a)    Congregate housing.  "Congregate housing" means 
 federally or locally subsidized housing, designed for the 
 elderly, consisting of private apartments and common areas which 
 can be used for activities and for serving meals. 

    (b)    Congregate housing services projects.  
 "Congregate housing services project" means a project in which 
 services are or could be made available to older persons who 
 live in subsidized housing and which helps delay or prevent 
 nursing home placement.  To be considered a congregate housing 
 services project, a project must have:  (1) an on-site 
 coordinator, and (2) a plan for assuring the availability of one 
 meal per day, seven days a week, for each elderly participant in 
 need.  

    (c)    On-site coordinator.  "On-site coordinator" means 
 a person who works on-site in a building or buildings and who 
 serves as a contact for older persons who need services, 
 support, and assistance in order to delay or prevent nursing 
 home placement.  

    (d)    Congregate housing services project participants or 
 project participants.  "Congregate housing services project 
 participants" or "project participants" means elderly persons 60 
 years old or older, who are currently residents of, or who are 
 applying for residence in housing sites, and who need support 
 services to remain independent. 

    Subd. 2. Repealed, 1994 c 480 s 9 

    Subd. 3.    Grant program.  The Minnesota board on aging 
 shall establish a congregate housing services grant program 
 which will enable communities to provide on-site coordinators to 
 serve as a contact for older persons who need services and 
 support, and assistance to access services in order to delay or 
 prevent nursing home placement. 

    Subd. 4.    Use of grant funds.  Grant funds shall be 
 used to develop and fund on-site coordinator positions.  Grant 
 funds shall not be used to duplicate existing funds, to modify 
 buildings, or to purchase equipment.  

    Subd. 5.    Grant eligibility.  A public or nonprofit 
 agency or housing unit may apply for funds to provide a 
 coordinator for congregate housing services to an identified 
 population of frail elderly persons in a subsidized multiunit 
 apartment building or buildings in a community.  The board shall 
 give preference to applicants that meet the requirements of this 
 section, and that have a common dining site.  Local match may be 
 required.  State money received may also be used to match 
 federal money allocated for congregate housing services.  Grants 
 shall be awarded to urban and rural sites. 

    Subd. 6.    Criteria for selection.  The Minnesota board 
 on aging shall select projects under this section according to 
 the following criteria: 

    (1) the extent to which the proposed project assists older 
 persons to age-in-place to prevent or delay nursing home 
 placement; 

    (2) the extent to which the proposed project identifies the 
 needs of project participants; 

    (3) the extent to which the proposed project identifies how 
 the on-site coordinator will help meet the needs of project 
 participants; 

    (4) the extent to which the proposed project plan assures 
 the availability of one meal a day, seven days a week, for each 
 elderly participant in need; 

    (5) the extent to which the proposed project demonstrates 
 involvement of participants and family members in the project; 
 and 

    (6) the extent to which the proposed project demonstrates 
 involvement of housing providers and public and private service 
 agencies, including area agencies on aging. 

    Subd. 7.    Grant applications.  The Minnesota board on 
 aging shall request proposals for grants and award grants using 
 the criteria in subdivision 6.  Grant applications shall include:

    (1) documentation of the need for congregate services so 
 the residents can remain independent; 

    (2) a description of the resources, such as social services 
 and health services, that will be available in the community to 
 provide the necessary support services; 

    (3) a description of the target population, as defined in 
 subdivision 1, paragraph (d); 

    (4) a performance plan that includes written performance 
 objectives, outcomes, timelines, and the procedure the grantee 
 will use to document and measure success in meeting the 
 objectives; and 

    (5) letters of support from appropriate public and private 
 agencies and organizations, such as area agencies on aging and 
 county human service departments that demonstrate an intent to 
 work with and coordinate with the agency requesting a grant.  

    Subd. 8.    Report.  By January 1, 1993, the Minnesota 
 board on aging shall submit a report to the legislature 
 evaluating the programs.  The report must document the project 
 costs and outcomes that helped delay or prevent nursing home 
 placement.  The report must describe steps taken for quality 
 assurance and must also include recommendations based on the 
 project findings. 

    HIST: 1991 c 292 art 7 s 7; 1992 c 513 art 7 s 29,30