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October 2009
Dear Heading Home Minnesota Supporter,
Thank you for your interest in Heading Home Minnesota.
As the cooler autumn temperatures set in, we are reminded another Minnesota winter is on its way. For the thousands of families, children, and individuals who are experiencing homelessness, this can evoke many feelings of anxiety and stress. Most shelters in Minnesota are at or beyond capacity. Waiting lists for available housing remain long, and more families than ever before are only a paycheck away from homelessness.
Today, Wilder Research will conduct its triennial statewide count of homelessness in Minnesota. More than 800 volunteers will canvas the state to locate and interview people staying at shelters and other locations to better understand the causes, circumstances, and effects of homelessness. The data collected will serve as an invaluable tool as we move forward to not only gauge how many people are experiencing homelessness in Minnesota, but to hear their stories and ultimately work to end homelessness.
A Note From Our Steering Committee Co-Chairs
Update on Heading Home Minnesota
Many people are asking – and rightly: What is happening with "Kit’s job"? Will Heading Home Minnesota (HHM) be hiring another executive director? When will we know what direction the organization will take?
The answers to these questions are not yet clear. One of Kit’s tasks when she assumed leadership of HHM was to analyze the HHM structure and provide advice on governance and direction. Before leaving her post, she provided members of the Steering and Executive committees with a recommendation for a focus and informal governance structure for the next phase of our work. The chairs and major funders are now analyzing her recommendations and determining how best to move forward.
The work of ending homelessness continues throughout the state (see, for example, summary of prevention initiatives discussed by Executive Team in August); HHM leaders remain strongly committed to supporting that work and ending homelessness in our state. The question is how best to define and implement a role for HHM that will advance this important work. As the chairs, major funders, and the full Steering Committee develop a direction for the initiative, we will keep you informed through the newsletter.
Up Close and Personal
Wilder Statewide Survey of Homelessness in Minnesota Takes Place Today; For One Volunteer in Aitkin County, Today is About Giving Hope
All across Minnesota today, volunteers will be working with Wilder Research to locate and talk to individuals, families and youth who are experiencing homelessness. They will visit shelters, transitional housing sites, homeless "camps", and community connect event sites. Every three years since 1991, Wilder Research has conducted a statewide survey of people who are homeless or living in temporary housing programs.
Read more...
News from the State
Minnesota Housing Takes a Look at Emergency Shelters
Working with staff at Minnesota Housing and the Department of Human Services (DHS), Kara Skahen, a graduate student in Social Work and Public Policy at the University of Minnesota, spent the summer taking a comprehensive look at emergency shelter in Minnesota.
Read more...
Regional Initiative Update
St. Stephen's FUSE Program Summary Indicates Success
In 2007, Hennepin County identified 266 individuals who collectively used approximately 70,000 nights of stay in jail, detox, and shelters over five years, costing $4.2 million. In an effort to reduce those numbers and provide more positive outcomes for people, St. Stephen's Human Services created the Frequent User Service Enhancement (FUSE) program, which targets the top users of both the single adult shelter system and the criminal justice system. Since its creation in April 2008, 41 people have been housed.
Learn more...
Across the Nation
USICH Names New Executive Director
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) has announced that Barbara Poppe will serve as the newly appointed Executive Director. Poppe brings more than 20 years of experience in the housing and homelessness arena, having served as the Executive Director of the Community Shelter Board (CSB) in Columbus, OH since 1995.
Read more...
Get Involved
Next Month is National Homelessness Awareness Month
November is National Homelessness Awareness Month, and we want to know what you're planning to do during the month. If you're hosting an event, forum, or other activities, please let us know on our Facebook page or twitter account. For volunteer and event ideas, visit our Get Involved tab on the Heading Home Minnesota website.
About Heading Home Minnesota
The Heading Home Minnesota Steering Committee, co-chaired by Jim Frey of the Frey Foundation and by Carleen Rhodes of the Minnesota and Saint Paul Community Foundations, consists of community leaders from the public, business, nonprofit, faith, and philanthropic sectors. For more information about Heading Home Minnesota or to suggest a future e-news topic, please call 612-335-3586 or email info@headinghomeminnesota.org.
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Photography Credits
by Wing Young Huie | Model Cities in St. Paul | courtesy of the Family Housing Fund |
