Meeting Date: December 5, 2024
To: Members of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority
From: Melissa Hanson, Housing Coordinator
Title
Northfield Union of Youth Wallflower House.
Body
Action Requested:
HRA to consider support of NUY’s Wallflower House transitional housing program and approve Memorandum of Understanding.
Summary Report:
The HRA’s mission is to be a partner in providing a sufficient supply of affordable, adequate, safe and sanitary dwellings in Northfield. Our goal is to create a community with housing opportunities available along the entire housing spectrum: from renters to homeownership, first-time homeowners, to senior living, workforce housing and empty nesters. We strive to create affordable housing opportunities and strengthen our neighborhoods utilizing sustainability, innovation, partnerships and community input.
The mission of Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) is to provide power and voice to youth through the creation of a caring and enriching community. NUY assists youth up to age 24 with finding safe and stable housing. NUY has extended outreach beyond their primary space at The Key by housing young people in emergency shelters and in host home family model through the NUY Wallflower Project. The Wallflower Project began in the fall of 2017 with seed money from the HRA and provides homeless youth with counseling and safe shelter and provides educational opportunities and support to host home families.
Due to the success of the Wallflower Project, and the identified needs of unhoused youth, NUY looks to expand the project to include a transition component called Wallflower House. Wallflower House would provide for:
• An opportunity for young people staying in Wallflower host homes, who have turned 18 years-old and/or graduated from high school, to move a step closer to sustainable independence with an opportunity to transition with continued NUY supports;
• Opening needed space in Wallflower Project host homes for youth 18 years-old and younger.
NUY is experiencing a gap in monthly funding for the Wallflower House and has asked that the HRA provide rent assistance of $1,250 a month, or $15,000 a year, to be used for rent and utilities for a term of three (3) years. The NUY believes that the three (3) year timeframe will address the short-term and immediate needs of the Wallflower project and allow for long-term planning and strategizing for the Key’s existing space.
Attachment 1 is the NUY 2024 Year-to-Date report outlining the expansion of the Wallflower Project to include the new Wallflower House program.
Attachment 2 is the 2023 Minnesota Homeless Study Single Night Count of People Experiencing Homelessness.
Attachment 3 is the draft Memorandum of Understanding.
Staff is recommending Board approval to provide gap rental assistance and transitional housing support for NUY’s Wallflower House, an expanded program as part of the Wallflower Project. The HRA Board will have the opportunity to vote on a Resolution allocating funds to the NUY in a separate action.
Alternative Options:
The HRA could choose to provide some or none of the rent support as requested by NUY. The Board could choose to modify the amount of funding in the attached draft MOU.
Financial Impacts:
HRA financial support to the NUY for the Wallflower Project has been built in through the annual budgeting process since its inception in 2017. The Wallflower House transitional program is a natural progression on the continuum of housing and is separate, but works concurrently, from Wallflower Project. NUY is requesting an additional $15,000 a year, or $45,000 over a 3 year period, for Wallflower House.
Tentative Timelines:
NUY has already identified a property and entered into a lease agreement effective January 1, 2025.