Resolution authorizing the allocation of Housing Trust Fund resources to Partners for Housing to support a Housing Generalist position that provides coordinated housing navigation and street outreach services.

Adoption of the attached resolution.

The Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee requests Economic Development Authority (EDA) Board authorization to allocate Housing Trust Fund resources to support housing navigation staffing at Partners for Housing for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. This is a one-time funding request while Partners for Housing pursues long-term funding through a joint application to the regional Continuum of Care and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the Mankato EDA and The Salvation Army. The requested allocation will provide interim support for a Housing Generalist position that delivers coordinated housing navigation and street outreach services.

Background and Need
The Street Outreach and Housing Navigation initiative is designed to improve the community's response to individuals and families living outdoors, in vehicles, or in places not meant for human habitation. Its primary objective is to help individuals quickly transition from homelessness into safe, stable housing while ensuring they are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.

The Housing Generalist meets individuals where they are, builds trusting relationships, and provides voluntary, person-centered support. The position focuses on connecting individuals with housing opportunities, health care, behavioral health and recovery resources, food assistance, income support, identification documents, public benefits, and other essential services. Staff also assist clients with applications, appointments, and navigating complex service systems that often present barriers to obtaining stable housing.

The initiative relies on collaboration among shelters, crisis response teams, public safety agencies, housing providers, and other community partners to create a coordinated and consistent response. Rather than requiring individuals to navigate multiple agencies independently, the Housing Generalist serves as a central point of connection, creating a more seamless and effective service experience.
Request Overview
Partners for Housing is requesting $28,512 from the Housing Trust Fund to support one-half of the annual salary, taxes, and benefits for a Housing Generalist position.

The Housing Generalist serves as an accessible and knowledgeable point of contact, helping individuals understand the housing continuum and identify appropriate next steps based on their unique circumstances. Through a collaborative, problem-solving approach, the position provides real-time assistance by:

• Connecting individuals to available emergency shelter.
• Exploring homelessness prevention options for households at risk of losing housing.
• Identifying community resources that address barriers to housing stability.
• Completing Coordinated Entry assessments on the same day or the next business day to ensure timely access to the housing system and reduce the length of time individuals experience homelessness.
• Providing individualized assistance with housing applications, public benefits, identification documents, and ongoing housing navigation.
• Maintaining follow-up communication to ensure individuals remain connected to needed services.

The accessibility and responsiveness of this position have consistently been identified by clients as one of the most valuable aspects of the community's homeless response system. By combining immediate assistance with education and long-term resource navigation, the Housing Generalist strengthens housing stability and helps individuals successfully access and maintain permanent housing.

Housing Trust Fund Status
Since its establishment, the Housing Trust Fund has invested $1,870,283 of the $1,902,887 allocated to the fund over the past four years, leaving a current unallocated balance of $32,604.

Housing Trust Fund investments have supported a range of housing priorities throughout the community, including:

• $1,135,000 to the Partnership Community Land Trust to create new affordable homeownership opportunities.
• $135,283 to Connections Shelter to expand summer shelter operations and increase emergency shelter capacity.
• $600,000 to the Blue Earth County EDA to support the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Blend conversion of public housing, preserving long-term affordable housing within the community.

The requested allocation of $28,512 continues the Housing Trust Fund's strategic investment in addressing housing needs by supporting housing stability services that help individuals experiencing homelessness access and maintain permanent housing.

Recommendation
The Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee recommends that the EDA Board adopt the attached resolution authorizing the allocation of Housing Trust Fund resources to Partners for Housing in an amount not to exceed $28,512 to support housing navigation services for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability.