[ST. PAUL, MN] – Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today convened the first meeting of the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness under the Walz-Flanagan Administration. The Council will focus their work on equity, given the current racial and ethnic disparities in homelessness. American Indian and Black Minnesotans are vastly over-represented among people experiencing homelessness, even when compared with those in poverty or those paying more than they can afford for housing.

“I’m proud to convene the cabinet to work across agencies to identify the highest impact efforts they can take together to ensure that every Minnesotan has a safe place to call home,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “State government has a critical role to play. In partnership with local and Tribal governments, the private sector, and communities across this state, we can close racial and ethnic disparities and make long-term strides to end homelessness.”

Lieutenant Governor Flanagan also reiterated the Administration’s goal to end veteran homelessness. Already, more than half of Minnesota’s counties have been confirmed by the Federal government to have effectively ended Veteran homelessness. Minnesota is poised to join the 62 other communities across the country and three entire states that have reached this goal.

“Our veterans stepped up to protect our country, and it is our duty to step up for them when they return home,” Lieutenant Governor Flanagan said. “Our Administration is committed to making Minnesota the fourth state in the nation to end veterans homelessness.”

The Lieutenant Governor asked Minnesota Housing Commissioner, Jennifer Leimaile Ho, and Department of Human Services Commissioner, Tony Lourey, to serve as the Council co-chairs and will convene the Cabinet-level Council, made up of Commissioners from eleven state agencies and the Chair of the Metropolitan Council:

Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Steve Grove, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

John Harrington, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Larry Herke, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs

Jennifer Leimaile Ho, Commissioner, Minnesota Housing

Tony Lourey, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services

Rebecca Lucero, Commissioner  Minnesota Department of Human Rights

Jan Malcolm, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health

Dennis Olson, Commissioner, Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Mary Cathryn Ricker, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education

Paul Schnell, Minnesota Department of Corrections

Nora Slawik, Chair, Metropolitan Council

In its first meeting today, the Council outlined plans to build on the progress made during the Dayton Administration and outlined next steps for strategic initiatives focused on resolving homelessness for people who are sleeping outside without shelter.

While the trajectory on homelessness in Minnesota improved since the launch of the Dayton Administration’s first Heading Home plan in 2014, decreasing by 14 percent overall and 31 percent for families with children, a great deal of work remains.

According to the one-night Point-in Time (PIT) Count done in January 2018, more than 7,200 people remain homeless on any given night in Minnesota. PIT Count numbers for 2019 are not yet available.

The PIT count also documented troubling increases among people staying outdoors without shelter, up by 41 percent statewide since 2014.

The Lieutenant Governor also reviewed proposed budget investments with the Council, including key increases that will prevent homelessness and improve housing stability for Minnesotans across the state.

Homework Starts at Home ($6M investment), a program which supports highly mobile families with school-aged children through housing and services tailored to their needs.

Family Homelessness Prevention Assistance Program ($4M investment) which provides short-term rent assistance, security deposits, and utility assistance.

$150 million in bonding to create affordable and supportive housing across Minnesota.

Other targeted investments that will help people experiencing housing crises stabilize and help people experiencing homelessness rapidly return to stable housing.

See Heading Home Together, Minnesota’s statewide plan to prevent and end homelessness, here.