Funding and Compliance

Hearth Connection increases the amount of resources to break the cycle of long-term homelessness, leverages funding from local, state and the federal government, for both housing and services, and provides the tools and systems needed to manage funding from multiple sources. Hearth Connection has developed innovative financing methodologies to pay for supportive services and housing, preserving flexibility in the service model and ensuring that all participants’ housing is affordable. In partnership with counties and tribal bands, Hearth Connection advocates for resources and applies for funding for both supportive services and rental assistance. We successfully secured $10 million from the Minnesota Legislature for the Supportive Housing and Managed Care Pilot from 2000 to 2007. We helped to secure $22 million for the State’s Long-Term Homeless Supportive Service Fund from 2005 – 2009 that pays for services in five regional long-term homeless projects. Hearth Connection has been awarded more than $5.6 million in rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and more than $5 million from Minnesota Housing. We have worked with supportive service partners, county and state government to bill for eligible Medical Assistance Targeted Case Management Services, leveraging over $500,000 per year in federal Medicaid funds. Hearth Connection has also been able to raise private investments from foundations and others to augment the work we do, over $4.8 million since 1999.

In addition to raising and packaging funds to end long-term homelessness, Hearth Connection has created systematic tools for administering and managing each funding stream. We also take the lead role in ensuring compliance with each investor and each funding stream’s requirements.

Hearth Connection’s role organizing and managing funding and compliance has been recognized by our supportive service partners as significant added value, allowing service agencies to focus on what they do best, helping participants.