This bill, introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives, seeks to appropriate funding for homelessness response initiatives under the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The bill includes three key provisions:

1. Emergency Services Grants – Allocates funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Emergency Services Program under Minnesota Statutes section 256K.49. Any unspent funds from the first year will carry over to the second year.

2. County Shelter and Homelessness Response Innovation Grants – Provides grants to counties to address significant gaps in homelessness services and fund effective interventions that lack other public funding. This includes low-barrier shelters, family shelter diversion programs, 24/7 shelter operations, and housing-focused case management. Applications with support from Tribal Nations or Indigenous organizations will be prioritized, and grantees must monitor outcomes and participate in a capacity-building collaborative.

3. Provider Capacity Building – Funds collaborations between counties and service providers to enhance access to sustainable funding streams for Medicaid-eligible services. This includes adopting best practices and distributing toolkits to providers for better access to stable funding sources such as Medicaid waiver programs, housing support programs, and mental health initiative grants.

The overall goal of the bill is to improve emergency and long-term responses to homelessness while strengthening service provider capacity through funding and best practices.