MINNESOTA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

GOAL: DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT MN, FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS AND MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS:-MINNESOTA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS LAUNCHED A PILOT ADVOCACY FELLOWSHIP IN AUGUST 2023 AND COMPLETED THE FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR COHORT IN 2024 WITH AMAZING SUCCESS. THE GOAL OF THE ADVOCACY FELLOWSHIP IS TO PROVIDE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR LEADERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE BY PROVIDING THEM WITH HANDS-ON COACHING, MENTORING, TRAINING, AND VALUABLE CONNECTIONS WHILE ALSO ENHANCING MCH'S ADVOCACY.-ENGAGED MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MEANINGFUL ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO INFLUENCE POLICY MAKERS THROUGH EVENTS, CAMPAIGNS, ACTION ALERTS, AND TESTIMONIALSGOAL: DEVELOP AND ADVANCE MEANINGFUL POLICY SOLUTIONS TO END HOMELESSNESS: -CONDUCT LISTENING SESSIONS ACROSS THE STATE WITH PEOPLE EXP. HOMELESSNESS AND ORGS WHO SERVE PEOPLE EXP. HOMELESSNESS/HOUSING INSTABILITY;-PRIORITIZE PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS IDENTIFIED BY PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE IN FORMING OUR POLICY AGENDA; ITEMS ON OUR 2024 POLICY AGENDA WERE VOICED BY PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXP. THE FELLOWSHIP DETERMINED WHAT WE ASKED DURING THE LISTENING SESSIONS, INPUT ON LOCATIONS TO HOLD THEM, AND THEY PROVIDED A VITAL ROLE IN SELECTING OUR FINAL POLICY AGENDA. -JOINED IMPACT MN'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, A COALITION BUILT TO CONNECT INTERSECTING ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS BETWEEN SUBSTANCE USE AND HOMELESSNESS. MCH'S REPRESENTATIVE IS A MCH FELLOW WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USEADVANCED A 2024 POLICY AGENDA FOR:- PRESERVED ALL HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS FUNDING, WHICH WAS AS IMPORTANT AS GETTING THE INCREASES IN 2023-INCREASED ONGOING FUNDING FOR THE EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM FROM $14.68M TO $73.68M- $8M IN ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR THE FAMILY HOMELESS PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS IS IMPACTFUL AS THE HOUSING COMMITTEE ONLY HAD A $10M BUDGET.- PASSED LEGISLATION REQUIRING DHS TO REQUEST A HOUSING CATEGORY FOR THE TRIBAL ENCOUNTER RATEGOAL: AMPLIFY OUR MISSION/MESSAGE THROUGH EFFECTIVE, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS WORK:-DEVELOPED AND ADVANCED MESSAGING THAT IS DATA-DRIVEN, INCLUSIVE, EFFECTIVE, AND ALIGNED WITH KEY PARTNERS-CONTINUED TO SHIFT THE NARRATIVE AROUND HOMELESSNESS AND THE SOLUTIONS NEEDED-IDENTIFIED NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTED THEM IN SHARING THEIR STORIES WITH LAWMAKERS/MEDIA-ENGAGED BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE IN EVENTS AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING DURING HOMELESS DAY ON THE HILL AND THE CONFERENCEGOAL: EXECUTE IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS INCLUDING HOMELESS DAY ON THE HILL AND OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, ELEVATING THE NEEDS/SOLUTIONS TO END HOMELESSNESS; 2024 HOMELESS DAY ON THE HILL HAD OVER 1200 PARTICIPANTS AND 140+ MEETINGS WITH POLICYMAKERS TO ELEVATE SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY AND ADVOCATE FOR SAFE & DIGNIFIED HOMES; 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE HAD 42 BREAKOUT SESSIONS, A POWERFUL KEYNOTE BY MCH FELLOWS; 800+ PARTICIPANTS, ENGAGING AWARDS CEREMONY HONORING FOUR INDIVIDUALS AND TWO ORGANIZATIONS.