Committee - Regular Meeting

Services Committee on this Thursday, August 13th. I am your Vice Chair, Commissioner Conley, Commissioner Adelson could not join us today. The first item of business on our agenda is to approve the minutes from the meeting held July 28th. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Moved and seconded. Any comments or corrections? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? The minutes have passed. We have two routine items on our agenda today. Item 2A is the Human Services and Public Health Resolution, which includes contracts and amendments to contracts with providers. Is this report 2610? Is there a motion to approve? Second. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? That item passes. Item 2B, this is an agreement, a joint powers agreement with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs for mutual cooperation and to accept funding for services for veterans experiencing homelessness. This is July 1st through July 1st, 2026 through June 30th of 27. We're receiving $110,234 continuing one grant funded FTE. I'll move that if there's a second. Second. Great. Does anyone want a yes? Commissioner Anderson.

Yeah. I would love an opportunity to hear about the great work we're doing for veterans.

Let's hear about it. ACA Hewitt.

Thank you, Vice Chair Connolly, Commissioner Anderson, Neil Doyle, Director of Veteran Services. I'm sure we'll be delighted to share that.

Welcome, Mr. Doyle.

Thank you for having me here today. The very heart of this board action request aims to continue valued services to some of our most vulnerable veteran populations. As you are aware, Hennepin County effectively ended veteran homelessness in 2024. Although this was a major achievement, this area remains a high priority as veterans continue to experience homelessness. As of Monday, 69 veterans still suffer from acute periods of homelessness in Hennepin County, which is 69 too many. This work is equally challenging as it is rewarding. Often the outcomes are life-changing when we do secure them. The intention of this is to increase income for veterans to the point where homelessness is not reoccurring. So we can negate crises before they even occur. Thank you for your continued support of veterans experiencing homelessness. And with that, I'm happy to address any questions, comments, or concerns you may have regarding this important work.

Very important work. Thank you so much. Questions or comments? Commissioner Cotell?

I just want to say, because I live in Richfield and you house your office out of there, I hear constantly when I go to town halls and stuff from our veterans who are saying how much they appreciate having that satellite service there. It's easier for them to access. There's free parking, and they really rely on it, and a lot of folks from Bloomington, too. And they just say how busy you are but how helpful you are. So I only hear wonderful, great things. Thank you for your service, and thank you for your diligence with our veterans.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Commissioner Anderson.

thank you madam chair yeah echoing the the thanks on the work that you're doing the relationships that you're maintaining to allow us to continue doing this this work uh on behalf of our veterans um you know i know that this isn't something that any of us do alone and so the fact that we're able to continue this work and continue drawing in dollars so that we can have the staff to do the work is essential to our success in maintaining that status of keeping veterans housed and moving them into permanent stable housing. So thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Thank you. Other questions or comments? All right. I'll just say I'll also appreciate the work that you do. It's incredible. We're continuing at the functional zero mark, even with the 69. That's 69 too many. But I know that with the continuing of the FTE that we have here and the continuing of the funding that we have, that we'll make a dent in that. And we'll just continue to do the good work we do around veterans' homelessness. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Commissioner. As a benchmark, about nine years ago, we were sitting at 89 veterans at this time experiencing homelessness. So we are moving the needle.

Significant progress. Thank you. All right. Seeing and hearing no other comments, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? The item passes. That concludes our agenda. I will declare us adjourned.