Hennepin County’s supportive housing strategy provides capital funding and technical assistance to develop long-term affordable supportive housing for the county’s most vulnerable residents. Established in 2019, the strategy aims to address housing instability, which can exacerbate severe health and safety concerns. The program prioritizes residents with extremely low incomes (below 30% of the area median income) and those requiring significant assistance to live independently due to disabling conditions or complex needs.

This strategy serves a range of target populations identified and referred by Hennepin County Human Services. These include individuals experiencing long-term homelessness, people with severe medical or mental health challenges, those with substance use disorders, and families or youth involved with county systems, including corrections, child protection, or developmental services. The goal is to create supportive housing that includes tailored services to meet these residents’ unique needs.

Capital funding for supportive housing projects is distributed through an annual Request for Proposals (RFP) process administered via the Housing and Economic Development portal. Applicants are encouraged to engage early with Hennepin County staff to discuss project ideas, build partnerships with service providers, and prepare proposals. The program supports projects at all stages, including conceptual phases, offering flexibility and early-stage funding.

Hennepin County’s strategy also seeks to develop 1,000 new supportive housing units over a decade. Since its launch, $24.77 million has been allocated to 26 projects, creating 575 supportive housing units. The program emphasizes collaboration between developers, operators, and service providers to maximize impact.

Interested applicants should register on the Housing and Economic Development portal to receive updates and attend informational sessions. For further assistance, contact Housing Development and Finance Director Julia Welle Ayres at julia.welleayres@hennepin.us or 612-543-4342, or Director of Housing Stability David Hewitt at david.hewitt@hennepin.us or 612-543-3650.