SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Today, the Minnesota House Children and Families Finance and Policy committee held a public hearing for the Pathway Home Act, chief authored by Rep. Heather Keeler. HF 444, ensures prevention methods are established to create sustainable resources and support systems to keep youth housed in Minnesota.
Specifically, the bill would invest the following:
- $150 million in shelter capital, funding 51 Shelter development projects to create or preserve 2,013 beds, including 1,184 beds in critical shelter deserts outside of the Twin Cities.
- $40 million in emergency grants to fund ongoing programs that support families and individuals in emergency shelters, with an ongoing investment of $35 million a year.
- $4.5 million a year for transitional housing, funding temporary housing and support services as people get back on their feet.
- $12.5 million a year in grants to support homeless youth, and $20 million a year to fund community outreach, drop-in programs, emergency shelter programs, supportive housing, and research.
- $2 million for a competitive grant program pilot for nonprofit organizations who are working to support family friends, relatives, or neighbors who support homeless youth.
- $1.6 million for the maintenance and improvement of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database, with $2 million a year ongoing.
“Having a safe home only helps us to excel in so many other places in our lives,” said Representative Keeler. “We can look at the data and see that people who look like me tend to show up with higher rates of disparity. All of us have a role in preventing homelessness. This is not a handout -- this is a hand-up for a future in Minnesota. We need to invest in our youth by passing this legislation into law.”
Beth Holger, CEO of The Link, spoke in support of the bill.
“Youth homelessness is a very real crisis in our state. We have the data, we have the numbers, and we know what it’s going to take to support our youth, and that’s the Pathway Home Act.”
In a unanimous vote, the bill has motioned to move to the House Ways and Means committee.