SF3614

Purpose

• The bill aims to increase and adjust funding for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program and give the agency more flexibility in how those funds are used to reduce the risk of homelessness and improve program effectiveness. It operates within the Housing Development Fund and updates related budget language.

Main Provisions

• Funding and use of funds:
  • Revisions to the appropriation for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program under Minnesota Statutes section 462A.204.
  • The appropriation may be used for program costs necessary to decrease the risk of homelessness and to improve program effectiveness, as determined by the agency.
  • The appropriation is part of the housing development fund, and amounts are, by default, part of the agency’s permanent budget base unless otherwise specified.
• Grantee structure and collaboration:
  • When a new grantee begins work in a geographic area with a current or former grantee, the new grantee may collaborate with either an advisory committee (required under 462A.204, subdivision 6) or the local continuum of care.
  • The new grantee is not required to meet the specific requirements of Minnesota Statutes section 462A.204, subdivision 4 in that context.
• Procurement flexibility:
  • The agency may award grants to existing program grantees even if procurement provisions in Minnesota Statutes section 16C.06, subdivisions 1 and 6 would normally apply.
• Funding level (FY2028 and beyond):
  • The base funding for this program in fiscal year 2028 and beyond is set at 10,719,000 dollars.
• Overall program framework:
  • The changes are integrated into Laws 2025 chapter 32 article 1 section 2 subdivision 10, and specify how the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program is funded and administered going forward.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends the appropriation language for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (462A.204) to:
  • Expand permissible uses of funds to reduce homelessness risk and improve program effectiveness.
  • Allow new grantees to operate with advisory committees or the local continuum of care, rather than strictly adhering to all existing subdivision 4 requirements.
  • Permit the agency to award grants to existing grantees despite certain procurement restrictions.
  • Establish a defined funding base for FY2028 and beyond (10,719,000 dollars), with the appropriation integrated into the housing development fund and treated as part of the agency’s permanent base unless specified otherwise.

Fiscal and Administrative Details

• The appropriation is designed to be available for the purposes of the housing development fund and to support reductions in homelessness through the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program.
• The bill specifies relationships with advisory committees and local continua of care to govern or guide the program in geographic areas.

Relevant Terms - Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program - Minnesota Statutes section 462A.204 - Housing Development Fund - Advisory Committee - Local Continuum of Care - Grantee - Procurement provisions - Minnesota Statutes section 16C.06 - Fiscal year 2028 - Base appropriation (10,719,000 dollars)