A Collaborative Strategy that Embraces All Five Pillars Needed to End Homelessness: Affordable Housing, Eviction Prevention, Shelters, Community Outreach and Permanent Supportive Housing
Brian spent about six months receiving cancer treatments in a local hospital in Minneapolis. He couldn’t work, and his savings dwindled as he continued to pay rent to his landlord. He nearly ran out of money when he found out about a program in Hennepin County called Adult Representation Services (ARS) that would help him avoid becoming homeless again.
Eviction Prevention Services Help Keep People in Their Homes
ARS is an independent agency in Hennepin County that provides legal representation for people like Brian who are facing eviction. The group was able to get him two months of rental assistance. In the new documentary, “America Can End Homelessness: Hennepin County Proves It’s Possible”, Brian told Invisible People that was enough to help him get through his treatments and return to work. Without that support, Brian said he may have fallen through the cracks.
“I’ve been homeless before, and I’ve lived on the street. I’ve been there before and done what I needed to do to survive on the street. It is horrendous,” Brian said.
Hennepin County’s ARS program is just one part of a broader, integrated effort to prevent and end homelessness. The county has developed a comprehensive system that includes affordable housing initiatives, eviction prevention programs, community outreach, low-barrier access to shelters and permanent supportive housing. Outside of services, Hennepin County also offers peer navigational support to people seeking assistance from its systems.
“We have to listen as deeply as possible to those who are experiencing our decisions and those who are implementing our decisions,” said Irene Fernando, the board chair for Hennepin County.
Together, this system creates a robust, coordinated approach that addresses homelessness from all angles, providing lasting solutions and illustrating how America can solve its homelessness crisis.
Investing in the Homelessness Response System
The federal government defines chronic homelessness as living in a place “not fit for human habitation” for at least 12 months. The latest Point in Time Count data shows that 738 people experienced chronic homelessness in the county in 2023, representing a 50% increase since 2018.
Over that time, Hennepin County has significantly invested in its homelessness response system. The county invested $191 million of COVID stimulus dollars to expand services, including a $98 million investment to create 15,000 supportive housing units.
David Hewitt, director of Hennepin County’s supportive housing program, said these investments represent roughly 40% of the pandemic-era funds the county received.
“This is where we felt we could have the most beneficial impact,” he said.
The county also partnered with the national nonprofit Community Solutions to improve its measurement of chronic homelessness. Community Solutions created the “Built for Zero” model, which many cities have adopted as part of their homelessness response systems.
The Built for Zero methodology requires cities to maintain a by-name, real-time count of all people experiencing homelessness locally and then create a “command center” of public and private-sector groups to build solutions. The solutions aim to achieve “functional zero,” or when fewer people are experiencing homelessness than available shelter beds at a given time. For a place like Hennepin County, that would mean no more than three people experiencing homelessness at any time.
“Their aim is to do that by the summer of 2025,” Beth Sandor, the chief program officer at Community Solutions, told Governing.com. “If anyone can do that, I think Hennepin County can.”
Outreach Programs: Meeting People Where They Are
While data and housing investments are critical, Hennepin County also knows that personal relationships and trust play an essential role in ending homelessness. That’s where the county’s outreach programs come in.
Outreach workers in the Homeless to Housing program provide a crucial gateway to services for those in need. Launched in November 2022, the program includes 58 outreach workers, four managers, and a dedicated case worker, all focused on helping individuals transition from homelessness to stable housing.
Lisa Gustner, who supervises the program, explained that outreach workers engage directly with people experiencing homelessness to address individual needs, such as securing shelter, housing, or social benefits. They visit encampments and other unsheltered locations, building personal connections to provide tailored support and help individuals navigate available resources.
“We are kind of the gateway to accessing services,” Gustner told Invisible People.
This approach has helped program staff build stronger bonds with the people they serve and allows people to navigate the services ecosystem more effectively. In its first year alone, the program helped over 900 people access housing and services; an impressive 94% did not return to the homeless response system.
Providing Low-Barrier Shelters
In Minnesota, Native communities are disproportionately affected by homelessness, but Hennepin County is addressing this with culturally sensitive services. Organizations like the American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC) work with the county to provide low-barrier shelters and outreach programs that meet the unique needs of Indigenous people.
For people like Robert, who suffered from chronic opioid use, these efforts can be the difference between life and death. Robert was able to access a shelter designed to serve Indigenous Americans like him. He said access to the shelter motivated him to get sober and turn his life around.
“Having four walls around you and having a spot to go, that does make you want to get sober,” Robert said.
Long-Term Investments in Permanent Supportive Housing and Affordable Housing
Permanent supportive housing is another cornerstone of Hennepin County’s efforts. This model combines permanent housing with access to services like mental health care, addiction treatment, and job training. The goal is to provide stability for those who have experienced chronic homelessness. By providing both housing and services, permanent supportive housing helps individuals regain control of their lives while addressing the underlying issues contributing to homelessness.
Hennepin County’s success is rooted in a firm belief that affordable housing is the foundation for a stable life. Without affordable housing options, individuals and families are forced to make impossible choices between paying rent and meeting other basic needs like food, healthcare, and utilities.
Hennepin County ensures more residents have access to safe, long-term housing by investing in deeply affordable housing and pairing it with supportive services. This investment is not just about giving people a roof over their heads—it’s about providing the stability needed for employment, education, and mental health.
A National Crisis, Local Solutions
Hennepin County’s efforts to solve homelessness are happening at a time when homelessness is increasing nationwide. Between 2022 and 2023, homelessness in the U.S. increased by 12%, with over 653,000 people experiencing homelessness. More than 143,000 of those individuals were considered chronically homeless—the highest number ever recorded.
However, Hennepin County’s success shows that local solutions can make a difference in even the most daunting national crisis. The county is addressing homelessness from every angle by focusing on affordable housing, eviction prevention, shelters, outreach, and permanent supportive housing.
As Commissioner Irene Fernando notes, criminalizing homelessness is not only inhumane but also economically unsustainable. Instead, the county is investing in long-term solutions that offer dignity, stability, and hope.
It’s time to move beyond outdated, punitive measures and embrace compassionate, data-driven solutions that work. Hennepin County has shown us the way—now it’s up to the rest of the country to follow.
Watch “America Can End Homelessness: Hennepin County Proves It’s Possible” to learn more about the collaborative strategy that has made this progress possible.