Supportive housing funding

Hennepin County’s supportive housing strategy offers capital funding and technical assistance to develop long-term affordable supportive housing projects.

In 2019, Hennepin County created the strategy to invest additional capital and service funding to support Hennepin County’s most vulnerable residents, including those with a combination of extremely low-incomes and other conditions or challenges to stable housing.

To maximize the impact of this funding, we are:

• Working with target populations to better understand their unique housing needs
• Partnering with supportive housing developers and providers early in the project development process
• Increasing focus and flexibility in how we invest

Program funding is available as part of an annual coordinated request for proposals (RFP). Learn how to apply on the Coordinated affordable housing development RFP webpage.

Supportive housing program handout (PDF, 1MB)

Overview

Serving our most vulnerable residents

The supportive housing strategy creates housing tailored to the needs and preferences of vulnerable residents being served by Hennepin County Human Services--those for whom housing instability leads to the worst health and safety concerns. These residents typically have a combination of extremely low incomes (less than 30% of area median income or roughly $30,000 for a four-person household), and:

• Need significant assistance to live independently
• Have a disabling condition that increases health and safety risks if unhoused
• Have no other access to existing support services
• Are most at risk of experiencing homelessness and are most likely to require ongoing support or services to live independently

Tenants of projects financed through the supportive housing strategy are identified and referred by Hennepin County’s Human Services departments. Examples of these households include: 

• People experiencing the longest periods of homelessness with additional barriers (i.e. “high priority homelessness”)
• People with complex medical conditions and currently homeless
• People with severe substance use disorders
• People with mental illnesses who are leaving treatment, at risk of institutionalization, or living in segregated settings
• People, including transition-age youth, with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and/or neurodiverse conditions
• People with disabilities involved with department of community corrections and rehabilitation services
• Families with disabilities involved with child protection services
• Youth involved in county systems

Apply

Capital funds for supportive housing projects are awarded through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process available annually as part of the Coordinated affordable housing development RFP.

Tips for applying

The Supportive Housing Program is designed to make funds available to projects earlier in the process than traditional housing finance programs, including projects still in the conceptual phase.

To prepare for current and future requests for proposals:

• Reach out to Hennepin County staff early to discuss project ideas.
• Build partnerships between developers/operators and service providers.
• Sign up to receive funding announcements through our housing and development newsletter.

Program progress

Through the supportive housing strategy, Hennepin County aims to support development of 1,000 new supportive housing units over 10 years.

To date, we have awarded $31.1 million to fund 33 supportive housing projects with a combined 688 units of supportive housing for vulnerable residents served and referred by Hennepin County Human Services.