6/24/2022 2:46:23 PM
On June 16 at the Duluth Civic Center, Gov. Tim Walz joined Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) Commissioner Larry Herke, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and other Federal, State, County and Local leaders – along with an enthusiastic audience of Veterans supporters -- to celebrate a major milestone: the effective end to Veteran homelessness in the St. Louis County Continuum of Care (CoC). This geographic area in the northeastern corner of the state is comprised of 27 cities, including Duluth, the county seat.
A CoC is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services for homeless families and individuals. The St. Louis County CoC is comprised of a broad coalition of stakeholders, including MDVA, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), Coordinated Entry Priority List Managers, the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, the St. Louis County Board, emergency shelters and a number of private, public and non-profit organizations. There are 10 CoCs in Minnesota, and the St. Louis County CoC is the eighth of 10 jurisdictions in the state to achieve an effective end to Veteran homelessness.
In addition to Gov. Walz, Commissioner Herke and Mayor Larson, other speakers included:
Effectively ending Veteran homelessness in the St. Louis County CoC does not mean there will never be another homeless Veteran; rather, it means that efforts will largely be focused on prevention. A comprehensive plan and robust system of programs and services have been developed to help ensure that any Veteran experiencing homelessness in the region will get the timely support they need to make their situation brief and non-recurring.
A primary partner in planning and programming, MDVA has directed its efforts and energies on identifying strategies, producing services and tracking data to help end Veteran homelessness throughout the state. Since this coordinated work began in 2014, nearly 3,000 Veterans experiencing homelessness have been housed.
According to Paul Williams, MDVA Deputy Director of Veterans Programs, the key to effectively ending Veteran homelessness in St. Louis County was strategic, consistent collaboration. “Over the past two years in particular, everyone came together to focus their resources, set a common goal and apply their specific subject matter expertise to ensure that Veterans could access safe, affordable housing – and we did it one Veteran at a time.”
Gov. Walz highlighted that the St. Louis County CoC had an aspirational goal supported by a well-crafted plan, which made a huge impact on the CoC’s success. He noted there is never one path to homelessness nor is it a rural versus urban issue; rather, the sheer volume of need has made it a true challenge to make positive changes that work across the system. Gov. Walz pointed out that the CoC’s achievement is a reflection of Minnesota’s values and is serving as an example of how to best serve other populations experiencing homelessness.
Paul McDonald, St. Louis County Board Commissioner, talked about the importance of the accomplishment to this particular region of the state. He shared that Ely, for example, had the claim to fame of having the largest per capita enlistment of any U.S. city during World War II. Today, there are thousands of Veterans still living in, and being served by, St. Louis County. He encouraged all Veterans who may need housing assistance to reach out for help and they will find it.
Commissioner Herke summarized this achievement with hope for continued success in helping Veterans find housing. “Our Veterans raise their hands and volunteer to leave their families and friends, serve our country and protect the freedoms we enjoy. When they return, they should be able to rely on a system that helps them find a safe place to call home. I’m proud to say that years of thoughtful planning and building strong community partnerships means ending Veteran homelessness is achievable.”
He also thanked Gov. Walz and the Minnesota Legislature for providing additional funding to develop new programs and services that address Veteran homelessness. He emphasized what is needed most now are landlords and property managers representing locations where Veterans could make a home for themselves and their families.
Currently, 85 of 87 Minnesota counties have achieved an effective end to Veteran homelessness. Hennepin and Ramsey counties continue to move forward with their planning and implementation to help Minnesota become the fourth state in the country to end Veteran homelessness. Learn more about this commitment on the MDVA website.
