America Can End Homelessness: Hennepin County Proves It’s Possible

Featured Video Play Icon

America can end homelessness, and Hennepin County is proving it’s possible. While cities across the nation face rising homelessness, Hennepin County, Minnesota, offers a powerful example by building a community-wide system that prioritizes people, not punishment. From preventing evictions to providing supportive housing, Hennepin leads the way, showing that coordinated, compassionate efforts can solve homelessness.

This video dives deep into Hennepin County’s approach to tackling homelessness at every level. You’ll hear stories like Daryl’s, who avoided homelessness through eviction prevention, and others who’ve found stability after years on the streets. Hennepin’s strategy integrates housing with a full system of services, proving that with the right resources, homelessness can be prevented and ended.

As a follow-up to our popular video Finland Solved Homelessness: Here’s How (Spoiler: It’s More Than Housing First), this video shifts focus to U.S. communities like Hennepin that are preventing and solving homelessness. Hennepin County shows that by addressing eviction prevention, affordable housing, mental health services, and job support together, we can reduce homelessness on a large scale.

The video also addresses the often-overlooked issue of Indigenous homelessness. In Minnesota, where Native communities are disproportionately affected, American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC) offers culturally sensitive services tailored to their unique needs.

Hennepin’s model is not about just one solution—it’s about everything working together. Their system includes legal representation, outreach in homeless encampments, housing case management, and shelters that offer dignity and pathways to permanent housing. Hennepin County isn’t just warehousing people—they’re investing in long-term, sustainable solutions like transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing.

In a country where criminalizing homelessness is becoming the norm, Hennepin offers a more humane and effective alternative. They’ve seen a 57% increase in people exiting homelessness into permanent housing over two years, proving that this comprehensive, people-first approach works.

The cost? Far less than the burden of criminalization. Hennepin County shows that investing in housing and support saves both money and lives. By the end of this video, you’ll see how their model of prevention and support is not only working but thriving. The solution doesn’t lie in more shelters or punitive laws—it’s about building systems that prevent homelessness and help people rebuild their lives.

Hennepin County offers a blueprint for other communities to follow. Will yours be next?

A heartfelt thank you to Hennepin County, the nonprofits, and everyone who graciously shared their stories, allowing us to help amplify their voices in the effort to prevent and solve homelessness.


IP 19 Logo Icon crop

Invisible People

           

We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Until then, we strive to be the most trusted source for homelessness news, education and advocacy.

Related Topics



Get the Invisible People newsletter


RECENT STORIES

12 Years Homeless: St. Louis' 'Old Timer' Story Will Break Your Heart

Demetrius

homeless woman grants pass

Cathy

disabled homeless man in Grants Pass

Chad

Elderly homeless woman in Grants Pass, Oregon

Brenda


RECENT ARTICLES

amputations

Preventable Amputations, Part 3: Homeless Kensington Residents Face Systemic Neglect

amputations

Preventable Amputations, Part 2: How Bias in Medicine Fails Kensington’s Homeless Community

preventable amputations

23 and Amputated: Ignorance in Treating Kensington’s Homeless Drug Users

hurricane helene eviction moratorium

Advocates Call for Eviction Moratorium in North Carolina Following Hurricane Helene

Get the Invisible People newsletter