1997 Minnesota Statutes

     256E.115 Safe houses, transitional housing, and 
  independent living assistance services for youth. 

    Subdivision 1.    Definitions; commissioner duties.  (a) 
 The following definitions apply to this section: 

    (1) "Targeted youth" means children who are ages 16 to 21 
 and who are in out-of-home placement, leaving out-of-home 
 placement, at risk of becoming homeless, or homeless. 

    (2) "Safe house" means a facility providing emergency 
 housing for homeless targeted youth with the goal of reuniting 
 the family if appropriate and possible. 

    (3) "Transitional housing" means congregate or cooperative 
 housing for targeted youth who are transitioning to independent 
 living. 

    (4) "Independent living assistance" means services provided 
 to assist targeted youth who are not living in a safe house or 
 transitional housing to make the transition to independent 
 living. 

    (b) The commissioner shall issue a request for proposals 
 from organizations that are knowledgeable about the needs of 
 targeted youth for the purpose of establishing a system of safe 
 houses, transitional housing, and independent living assistance 
 for such youth.  The commissioner shall appoint a review 
 committee of up to eight members to evaluate the proposals.  The 
 review panel must include representation from communities of 
 color, youth, and other community providers and agency 
 representatives who understand the needs and problems of 
 targeted youth.  The commissioner shall also assist in 
 coordinating funding from federal and state grant programs and 
 funding available from a variety of sources for efforts to 
 promote a continuum of services for targeted youth through a 
 consolidated grant application.  The commissioner shall analyze 
 the needs of targeted youth and gaps in services throughout the 
 state and determine how to best serve those needs within the 
 available funding. 

    Subd. 2.    Program service requirements; participation 
 requirements; licensure of independent living assistance 
 providers.  (a) The following services, or adequate access to 
 referrals for the following services, must be made available to 
 the targeted youth participating in the programs described in 
 subdivision 1: 

    (1) counseling services for the youth, and their families, 
 if appropriate, on site, to help with problems that contributed 
 to the homelessness or could impede making the transition to 
 independent living; 

    (2) job services to help youth find employment in addition 
 to creating jobs on site, including food service, maintenance, 
 child care, and tutoring; 

    (3) health services that are confidential and provide 
 preventive care services, crisis referrals, and other necessary 
 health care services; 

    (4) living skills training to help youth learn how to care 
 for themselves; and 

    (5) education services that help youth enroll in academic 
 programs, if they are currently not in a program.  

    (b)(1) Targeted youth who have current drug or alcohol 
 problems, a recent history of violent behaviors, or a mental 
 health disorder or issue that is not being resolved through 
 counseling or treatment are not eligible to receive the services 
 described in subdivision 1. 

    (2) Targeted youth who are not employed, participating in 
 employment training, or enrolled in an academic program are not 
 eligible to receive transitional housing or independent living 
 assistance. 

    (c) Providers of independent living assistance services 
 must be licensed under section 245A.22. 

    HIST: 1989 c 282 art 2 s 131; 1995 c 207 art 4 s 4; 1997 c 248 
 s 43