Goals

Heading Home Minnesota’s goal is to end long-term homelessness in Minnesota.

With the support of the public, business, nonprofit, faith and philanthropic sectors it is possible to break the cycle of homelessness. Collaborative efforts around the state, while tailored to local community circumstances, emphasize three main strategies:

HOUSING

  • Create supportive housing to stop the cycle of homelessness.

    Minnesota’s statewide Business Plan calls for the creation of 4,000 supportive housing units by 2010 for individuals, youth, and families with histories of homelessness. Local initiatives include supportive housing units others who need services. Supportive housing includes mental health services, job training, childcare, and related services that help people stabilize and then improve their lives.

PREVENTION

  • Provide stop-gap assistance and discharge initiatives.

    A low-income earner supporting a family may need temporary assistance to pay for housing when he or she loses a job. A person leaving an institution – whether foster care, treatment, or correctional – may need a discharge plan that includes housing or other services while they readjust to the community. Regional Heading Home initiatives ensure that rental assistance and other supports are in place to prevent people from becoming homeless.

OUTREACH

  • Reach out to homeless youth and adults on the streets.

    A criminal justice response to street homelessness is both costly and ineffective. The alternative is a coordinated system of 24/7 outreach that will respond to the needs of people on the streets, reduce the negative impact of homelessness on the community, decriminalize homelessness, and allow police officers to focus on community safety. Outreach also increases access to primary health care and mental health services – and is the first step to bringing people into housing.

What’s New

Heading Home Minnesota has reached its mid-point of 2,000 towards a commitment to create 4,000 housing opportunities by 2010! To-date, 2,054 opportunities have been financed.

 

Learn More

Heading Home Minnesota Task Force Goals

 

Minnesota’s Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness Goals

 

Heading Home Minnesota Regional Initiative Goals

Click on any areas above to learn more about the individual regional initiatives.