Pandemic response and recovery

Pandemic response and recovery projects

Programs, services and projects from our pandemic response and recovery are rooted in our disparity reduction efforts. These projects are outlined in seven domains, provide general support across domains or other government services.

We are strategically investing in:

Education

Educational Services

Employment

Employment Strategies

Health

Vaccine incentives
Behavioral Health
Public and Maternal Health
Food Insecurity

Housing

Services for people experiencing homelessness
Housing recovery
Eviction Reduction
Emergency Shelter Facility

Income

Economic Recovery

Justice

Gun Violence
COVID-19 Related Court Backlog
Anti-Hate Initiative

Connectivity

Broadband and Digital Inclusion

Other

Voter Participation, Elections

Disparity reduction domain infrastructure

Engagement Services
Enterprise Integrated Data system
Digital Experience
Countywide HVAC Covid-19 response
Information Technology
Information Technology Community Connectivity

American Rescue Plan Act funding

Through the American Rescue Plan Act and State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-SLFRF) program, Hennepin County has a total award of $245.9 million to respond to the economic and public health impacts of COVID-19 and to mitigate its impacts on the community, residents, and businesses. Here are the ARPA-SLFRF reports from 2021.

The county board took action in March 2022 to use the dollars from ARPA-SLFRF for government services (payroll). This allows for other revenue sources to be used for pandemic response and recovery efforts. It also provides the county and subcontractors greater flexibility in getting funds directly to residents, businesses and partners in our communities.

CARES Act funding

The county received about $220 million and used the funds to respond to COVID-19 and support residents, businesses and community. View the Hennepin County COVID-19 response report.

Support for businesses

Hennepin County Small Business Relief Program

Providing grants to small businesses
Providing culturally specific outreach and technical assistance

Establish a network that aid businesses in COVID-19 recovery

Provide peer-to-peer business roundtables
Host critical topics series
Match businesses with specialized technical assistance and coaching

Support local restaurants and bars during the COVID-19 crisis

Support for community organizations

Provide expanded safety net services due to COVID-19

Education

Funding targeted for youth involved in county systems, such as child welfare and corrections.

Support for distance learning

Purchasing devices, hotspots, and cell phones
Investing in broadband in places where many youth are without connectivity

Providing educational support

Education planning, monitoring, coaching, and tutoring
Coordinating with school district staff, child welfare, Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation, Be@School staff, and related professionals
Arranging for other needed services
Building problem-solving and self-advocacy skills
Developing support networks

Homelessness and Housing

Indoor Villages project

100 tiny structures inside a warehouse building
Will provide individual living space for each resident
Connects residents with supportive services

Prevent the spread of COVID-19

Focusing on emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness

Provide a low-barrier emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

Provide safer shelter at hotels

Operating three hotel sites for people who cannot safely self-isolate
Working with Americorps to operate two hotel sites for seniors and people with underlying health conditions
Operating two hotel sites for people staying in shelter who have suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19

Affordable housing stabilization fund

Culturally specific support

Efforts are targeted for the Native American community, which is disproportionally affected by homelessness.

Providing crisis outreach and housing navigation to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness
Connecting people to housing and shelter more rapidly
Support low-barrier housing

Purchase alternative living spaces for people experiencing homelessness

Food security

Support food banks and other organizations

Grants for food insecurity

Distributed to 75 community organizations as part of a long-term strategy to address food insecurity

Human services

Support non-profits and community organizations

Supporting organizations that serve individuals, families, and youth involved in county systems
Providing funding for facility adaptations, technology, supplies, and PPE

Jobs

Provide job search resources

Allocating funding to organizations serving people who are experiencing income loss due to COVID-19
Partnering with Twin West Chamber of Commerce to create an app that connect people with open jobs/careers

Licensing service centers

Reduce backlog

Modifying spaces at Brookdale, North Minneapolis Hub and Ridgedale, and potentially another location
Hiring staff and providing PPE and cleaning supplies
Providing technology including an online payment system, electronic locker system, and chat/instant messaging

Outreach

Public outreach campaign

Public health

Multidisciplinary approach to combat COVID-19

Hiring/contracting staff to provide mobile testing
Hiring staff for contact tracing and investigation
Supply PPE for staff

Hennepin Healthcare

Covers COVID-19 expenses from March through July

Rental and housing assistance

Emergency assistance for renters and homeowners

Targeting renters with incomes below 50 percent of the area median income
Helping an expected 9,000 residents maintain stable housing during the pandemic

Rental assistance

Establish a program that will allow rental property owners to apply for emergency rental assistance on behalf of tenants who cannot pay due to COVID-19

Technology

Provide low-cost laptops

To youth, adults and seniors
Eligible to those participating in distance learning, pursuing employment, or accessing county services and telehealth options

Testing

Support long-term care facilities

Provide increased COVID-19 testing, follow-up services, and education

Increase testing

Purchase saliva test kits from Vault Health and Hennepin Healthcare
$425,000 to Hennepin Healthcare to increase testing

Voting

Promote and support absentee voting

Educating and encouraging voters to vote absentee
Counting increase in absentee ballots
Implementing public health measures in polling places
Recruiting polling place staff
Mailing absentee ballots
Hiring additional seasonal staff to support absentee voting in the general election

Support cities for the 2020 election

Youth programs

Support summer youth programs

Helping organizations safely provide youth programs and organized youth sports
Supporting facility adaptations, technology, supplies and PPE

Support safe participation in youth sports and programming

Additional funding

Hennepin County is using additional CARES funding to equip Hennepin County and Hennepin Healthcare staff to best serve residents during this pandemic.

Internal focus areas include:

Transitioning to new ways to deliver service
Time off/accommodations for employees
Health resources for employees
Emergency response