HF5200

MACV’s Statewide Program Director, Lindsey Hofer, testified during a House Human Services Finance Committee hearing in support of HF5200. HF5200, sponsored by Rep. Heather Keeler, would establish the Office of Homelessness and Housing Supports to lead the administration of the state’s homelessness services system. The bill would appropriate $597,000 in fiscal year 2025 for a working group to simplify supportive housing resources.

Impact on Veteran Homelessness 

While MACV and our partners have made incredible progress toward our goal of ending Veteran homelessness, we have also seen how the complexities of the system can delay or prevent our Veteran clients from entering housing. MACV launched a Documentation Specialist program to mitigate this gap in August of 2023. This program offers transportation, coordination, and technical assistance to Veterans who need vital documents for services, employment, and housing.

While this program has already seen success in reducing the time a Veteran is homeless and increasing stability – our one full-time employee is not enough to solve this broad issue that all Minnesotans experience. We believe establishing this workgroup will be a significant step forward in easing the bureaucratic burdens on our unhoused neighbors.