Heading Home Ramsey

I recently had the opportunity to learn about Heading Home Ramsey (HHR) at a City Council Organizational Committee meeting.  HHR is a collaborative of organizations that serve people who are experiencing homelessness or formerly homeless people.  The coalition forms the federally mandated governing board for the Continuum of Care for Ramsey County.  The Continuum of Care is all resources and services for homeless response that includes prevention (financial assistance, family assistance grants, dispute resolution with landlords), outreach (resources and case management), drop-in centers, emergency shelters, Coordinated Entry, and supportive housing (transitional housing, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing).  The members of HHR consist of formerly homeless people, service providers, housing providers, local government, advocacy organizations, schools, health providers, and law enforcement.  Some of the members are funded by HHR and are required to be members.

Heading Home Ramsey works to prevent and end homelessness through the Continuum of Care.  HHR is responsible for setting funding priorities and administering federal, state, city, and philanthropic funds; implementing and monitoring Coordinated Entry; and evaluating outcomes of funding projects.  HHR administers approx. $8.5 million each year and organizations that receive grant dollars also match funds.

In a survey from Oct. 2018, Wilder research found 1,927 people experiencing homelessness in Ramsey County, though there may be many more who are uncounted. A lack of shelter beds forces many to double-up with friends/family/neighbors/strangers or sleep in places not meant for human habitation.  Not only is this unsafe and unhealthy, but it  leads people being hidden from data and fewer resources follow.  Many experience common barriers to housing such at poor credit, disability, eviction record, criminal record, and mental health issues.  The lack of affordable housing and Section 8 housing also adds to the issue. 

HHR has asked the City to make affordable housing a priority, provide incentives for landlords to rent to people with barriers, support tenant training, reform regulations to support tenants, expand shelter resources, and work with service providers to improve homeless response.

Handouts are available here and here.

--Katrina H-T,  George Latimer Central Library