Minnesota Coalition For The Homeless Inc

TO ENSURE EVERY MINNESOTAN HAS A SAFE, DECENT, AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME.

POLICY ADVOCACY: EACH YEAR, THE MINNESOTA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS ADVANCES POLICIES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY. IN 2021, SIGNIFICANT WINS IN BOTH POLICY AND FUNDING WERE ACHIEVED:- $16 MILLION IN FUNDING TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND HOMELESS SHELTERS ACROSS THE STATE- $12 MILLION INCREASE FOR SHELTER PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS, STAFFING, MOTEL VOUCHERS, STREET OUTREACH- $50/MONTH INCREASE TO BASE RATES OF HOUSING SUPPORT, A KEY PROGRAM SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIORS AS THEY TRANSITION OUT OF HOMELESSNESS-HOUSING SUPPORT ABSENCE WAIVER EXTENSION CHANGED FROM 18 TO 91 DAYS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS SEEKING MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, OR ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT MAINTAIN HOUSING STABILITY- $100 MILLION IN BONDS TO PRESERVE/CREATE HOMESCOMMUNICATIONS: THE MINNESOTA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AMPLIFIED OUR MISSION/MESSAGE THROUGH EFFECTIVE, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS WORK INCLUDING GROWING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY HOMELESSNESS/HOUSING INSTABILITY AND SUPPORTING THEM IN SHARING THEIR STORIES WITH LAWMAKERS/MEDIA, AND GAINING SIGNIFICANT PRESS COVERAGE INCLUDING 14 ARTICLES AND ONE PODCAST.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ORGANIZING: THE MINNESOTA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS DEEPENED OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT ACROSS MINNESOTA. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 100+ CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY ADVOCATES/LEADERS AND PARTNERS TO INFORM OUR POLICY AGENDA AND EXPANSION OF THE REGIONAL EXPERT NETWORK (HIGHLIGHTED BELOW.) REGIONAL EXPERT NETWORK: THE REGIONAL EXPERT NETWORK (REN) IS A GROUP OF DEDICATED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ADVOCATES THAT CARRY A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS AND/OR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE REN MEMBERS ARE IN GREATER MN, HALF ARE IN THE 7-COUNTY METRO AND 70% OF REN MEMBERS HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. THE REN BELIEVES IN BUILDING AN EMPOWERED, PEER-LED COMMUNITY WITH CURRENT OR PAST LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT IS BROADLY BASED, COLLABORATIVE AND STRATEGIC TO ADVISE LOCALITIES AND POLICYMAKERS ON BEST PRACTICES TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS. THE REN GREW FROM EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS IN 2020 TO TWELVE ORGANIZATIONS IN 2021.EVENTS: THE MINNESOTA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS HOSTS TWO KEY EVENTS TO ADVANCE OUR POLICY PRIORITIES, STRENGTHEN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS/NETWORKS, AND UPLIFT THE SOLUTIONS NEEDED TO ENSURE EVERY MINNESOTAN HAS A HOME.HOMELESS DAY ON THE HILL: THE MINNESOTA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS HOSTED AN ONLINE DAY ON THE HILL THAT INCLUDED: 384 PARTICIPANTS; AN UPLIFTING PROGRAM ON THE POWER OF ADVOCACY; PRESS CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS DURING THE PANDEMIC; GARNERED SIGNIFICANT MEDIA COVERAGE; INCLUDED A TWEETCHAT WITH LEGISLATORS; AND FEATURED BIPOC SPEAKERS AND PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS IN BOTH THE PROGRAM AND THE PRESS CONFERENCE.ANNUAL CONFERENCE: THE 2021 CONFERENCE THEME WAS EMERGE | EVOLVE | ELEVATE: REFOCUSING FOR THE FUTURE AND WAS HELD VIRTUALLY. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 500 STATEWIDE REGISTRANTS; 30 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS AND MEMBERS OF THE MN TRIBAL COLLABORATIVE TO ATTEND; OVER 40 BREAKOUT SESSIONS ON BEST/EMERGING PRACTICES, PROGRAMS, DATA, TRIBAL HOMELESS STUDY; MORNING COFFEE CHATS FOR NETWORKING AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING; AND A POWERFUL KEYNOTE PRESENTATION BY AMANDA ANDERE FOCUSING ON HOUSING AND RACIAL JUSTICE.