Homework Starts with Home
What is the Homework Starts with Home (HSWH) program? (collapse)
The Homework Starts with Home is a program administered by Minnesota Housing to provide grant funds to address housing instability and homelessness among students and student families. Households include families with children eligible for pre-K through grade 12 academic programs or unaccompanied youth, with or without children of their own, that are eligible for an academic program through grade 12.
HSWH provides referred and eligible households supportive services and financial supports for housing related costs.
Anoka County HSWH: In June of 2023, MN Housing awarded HSWH Grant funds to Anoka County for the current 4-year grant period of October 1, 2023-September 30, 2027. The Anoka County HSWH program is designed to provide short term rental and deposit assistance or Housing Trust Fund (HTF) subsidies for up to 71 households over the course of the grant period.
Households who are referred will need to be assessed through the Coordinated Entry system and meet income qualifications set by MN Housing and Metro HRA. The Salvation Army will provide supports and financial assistance to households receiving temporary rental assistance and the YMCA of the North will provide supports for households receiving a HTF subsidy.
The HSWH program is designed to be collaborative. Anoka County will administer the program in collaboration with Anoka-Hennepin School District, Metropolitan HRA, with additional participant supports provided by Anoka County CSSBH and Public Assistance and Jobs & Training Departments.
Anoka Hennepin-School District HOPE Office supplies referrals to the program from 6 targeted schools: University Avenue Elementary School, Morris Bye Elementary School, Ramsey Elementary School, Northdale Middle School, Coon Rapids High School and Anoka Hennepin Technical High school, and the A-H HOPE Office.
What is the HSWH Workgroup?
The HSWH workgroup is a subgroup to the Anoka County Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP Advisory Committee).
What is the role of the HSWH Workgroup?
The workgroup is tasked with program development, implementation, materials, referral, and case management supports, and will work to connect participants to voluntary services and supports to support timely household and housing stabilization. The workgroup will also assist with monitoring the HSWH program and will report to the FHPAP Advisory and Heading Home Anoka Housing Collaborative.
How do I become a member?
Interested persons may contact the HSWH Workgroup Chair, Christine O'Brien at Christine.Obrien@anokacountymn.gov ; 763-324-2219 or Co-Chair, Heidi Geiss at Heidi.Geiss@ahschools.us; 763-433-4685 if interested in learning more about the advisory or joining the advisory committee.
Who is currently a HSWH Workgroup member?
The workgroup is comprised of staff from Anoka County, A-H HOPE Office, The Salvation Army, YMCA, persons with lived experience and various community stakeholders.