HeadingHome Minnesota
To Raise $60 Million
Jan. 7, 2008
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and a broad coalition of business, nonprofit and faith leaders announced a private-sector commitment to raise $60 million in a plan to end homelessness.
HeadingHome Minnesota, a public-private partnership to end homelessness in the state, has already received over one-quarter of the total — $16 million — with the balance to be raised by 2010. The private sector contributions will complement $217 million the initiative is seeking in new funding from local, state and federal governments.
HeadingHome Minnesota is an umbrella partnership that will integrate strategies already underway, including the Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness and four regional HeadingHome programs in Hennepin, Ramsey and St. Louis Counties and Southeast Minnesota.
HeadingHome Minnesota is co-chaired by Jim Frey, president of the Frey Foundation, and Carleen Rhodes, president of the St. Paul Foundation. Other key members of the initiative are Stan K. Dardis, chief executive officer, Bremer Financial; Jim Humphrey, president and chief executive officer, Andersen Corporation; Gail Dorfman, Hennepin County Commissioner; Steven O'Neil, St. Louis County Commissioner; James Gertmenian, Senior Minister, Plymouth Congregational Church; Tom Kingston, president of Wilder Foundation; and Kate Wolford, president of The McKnight Foundation.
"The financial commitment of HeadingHome Minnesota will go a long way toward ending chronic homelessness in our state," said Pawlenty. "It's these kind of strong and diverse partnerships that are essential for success."
There are about 9,200 Minnesotans who are homeless, according to a 2006 study by Wilder Research. Included in the homeless population are 1,318 families. Wilder estimates that 30 percent of people without homes live outside the Twin Cities metro area.
HeadingHome Minnesota's efforts will emphasize three long-term
solutions that address the underlying challenges facing the homeless:
- Prevent homelessness from happening
- Create supportive housing for people who need help stabilizing and
improving their lives
- Outreach to those who are on the streets
The initiative also will collaborate with existing efforts to end homelessness. Frey said he was especially encouraged by the success of the Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness. The statewide private-public partnership, which is now part of HeadingHome Minnesota, was started in 2004.
"The Business Plan has created over 1,600 supportive housing opportunities — almost halfway home toward its
seven-year goal of 4,000," said Frey. "And it has succeeded while staying on budget and on time."
HeadingHome's public-private-nonprofit collaboration will continue to develop the innovative programs that are earning national recognition for Minnesota's efforts to end homelessness, said Rhodes. "We have the discipline to invest in strategies with proven records of success,"
she said. "But we also recognize that homelessness is a statewide challenge; HeadingHome gives us the flexibility to tailor programs to local needs and circumstances."
HeadingHome Minnesota has already garnered national support through the
homelessness initiatives of Fannie Mae.
Ending long-term homelessness by 2010 has been a priority for the Pawlenty Administration, with general fund and bonding investments of $74 million since 2004 for permanent supportive housing for families with children and individuals who experience long-term homelessness.
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