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>> Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon and welcome to the Budget Committee of the
whole. Today's Focus will be on community services and support. On August. The 25th
County manager mean Becca provided overview of the proposed supplemental budget
today to community Services and support service teen kicks off a series of presentations
focus on performance measures for East Department. The county performance measured
process helps the county improve accountability to our community. Understand the
impact of budget investments. Make data informed decision and identify opportunities for
improvement. Performance measures are already available for review online in opening
performance section. The open of the county's open data. Porter, if you want more
information about the performance measures presented today, check out the community
service and support Department dashboard which have additional charts in
background information. And so with that, I handed over to get the county manager can't
Francois to start a community services and support presentations. Thank you,
chair. Good afternoon. Madam Chair, Commissioners County Manager Factor.
>> Those of you here in chambers and those of you joining and watching remotely.
Before we begin the community services and supports department presentation.
>> I want to just take a few minutes to put today's discussion about performance
into the larger context of the budget County manager Becker presented on Tuesday. You
heard her say on Tuesday you heard her talk about the significant fiscal pressures
ahead of us. HR one is one of the most significant. It fundamentally shifts cost and
responsibilities from the federal government. 2 states and counties, particularly in
programs like SNAP and Medicaid that serve some of our most vulnerable residents.
For Ramsey County. That means additional staffing and administrative cost potential
new responsibility for a share of the actual snap benefit cost and more complexity in
determining and maintaining eligibility. And those impacts are just financial. Changes in
eligibility and program requirements will affect residents directly while also
increasing the workload and operational demands on the staff who serve them. HR one
is not the only pressure we are also facing unfunded and under underfunded mandates,
increasing costs for state mandated services and other pressures that will continue
into 28. And 29. As county manager Becker said on Tuesday, the choices ahead
will be more difficult and the tradeoffs more significant. That makes the conversation
that we're having here today about performance even more important. Performance
measures aren't simply numbers that we collect and report to the board. They help us to
answer some pretty basic questions. Our residents getting the services they
need. Are we getting the results? We intended? Where are people waiting too long?
Where are we seeing disparities? What can we do differently and what are we
getting the greatest possible value from the resources entrusted to us? Those
questions matter in any budget environment. But they matter even more in the one we're in.
And the entry. As we make choices. We need to know what's working so we can
protect it. We need to know what isn't working as well as it should. So we can change
it. before our answer is simply to add more resources we need to understand whether
there are better ways to organize the work, simplify a process, use technology,
eliminate duplication or work differently across departments. And that's
operational excellence. A good performance in good performance information helps
us get there. We're already seeing what that looks like in practice. The work departments
have been doing to improve service delivery to reduce wait times addressed backlogs,
better coordinate services and understand residents experiences is also building
our capacity to respond when circumstances change quickly. We've seen that very clearly
in our recent work supporting residents affected by encampment closures. County
teams have had to work across traditional departmental lines and bring financial
assistance, housing, public health, social services and other supports directly to
residents. We've had to pay attention to what residents need. What is working where
the gaps and to be able to adjust quickly. That kind of response doesn't happen
because a single program because of a single program or a single department. It
happens because we have been building a stronger culture around outcomes, continuous
improvement and residents entered service. There is also an important fiscal side to
this performance. Measurement cannot simply be a tool for identifying where to reduce
spending. It also needs to help us identify what we should protect. If an
investment is producing meaningful results for residents, we should know
that. If changing process is saving time or reducing cost. We should know that too. And
if something isn't producing the outcomes we expected. We need to be willing to ask why
and what we should do differently. That is how performance information
becomes useful for budget budgeting and decision-making. So as you hear from our
departments today, I would encourage us to listen for more than whether a particular
measure went up or down. Listen for this story behind the measure. What changed for
residents? What did we learn? What are we doing differently because of what the data tells
us and what does that mean for where we put our resources going forward because
ultimately that's the purpose of this work. As county manager Becker noted on
Tuesday performance will help inform the next budget cycle and future decisions given the
choice is ahead of us. That connection between resources, performance and results is
going to become increasingly important. And I want to thank the board. Thank you very much
for continuing to ask these questions and supporting this work. I also want to thank our
department directors and teir teams and our admin director and our controller and the
Office of the chief of staff as well as central finance. The executive team and county
manager factor. It takes real work to develop meaningful measures. Examine your own
results and then use what you've learned to improve. The fiscal challenges ahead are
significant. But if we stay focused on what works, remain willing to change, what
doesn't and keep residents at the center of those decisions. We'll be in a much stronger
position to make the difficult choices ahead. And with that, I will turn it over to. Our
departments to make their presentations. Thank you. Thank you. and director
Wilkens up to the C's. dicey. >> I think point of welcome thank you very
>> and I get to kick it off for the for the tam. So the good news about going for says
I get to set the bar that is is I get to set good afternoon. Chair
commissioners, County manager and members of the public. >> Thank you for the
opportunity to be before you today. Before begin, I want to recognize county manager
factor Deputy County Manager France. Why administrative director Dave Zach friend. The
housing stability Department and for the whole CA community supports and services team for
their support, feedback and partnership. In today's presentation. I also want to
recognize our county community providers and the residents during this difficult moment -
in their lives. The results I'm sharing today reflect their work and their
partnership and as well as their experiences. Any given night in Ramsey County,
hundreds of people are experiencing homelessness are without a place to call home.
But our work does not begin when somebody enters shelter for many residents,
homelessness begins with the housing crisis much earlier, a rent increase. Alas income, an
unexpected expense like a medical bill or car repair or simply income that has not
kept pace with the rising cost of housing that we're seeing today. That is important
context for the important performance measures I'm going to share with you today. I
think it's important to mention that housing stability Department was raised up on
its own legs as a stand-alone department in 2020 during COVID. It was a time when
Ramsey County communities across the country were responding to unprecedent. I'm
an emergency of homelessness crisis in our nation. The department was created at a
time when homelessness response look very different than it does today. it was had
significant emergency selter in prevention funding at that time. For that moment. The
funding rules were also flexible and allowed more flexibility during that time.
And there were a lot of endless emergency resources that were deployed and not
necessarily built for sustainability. So now several years later and with new
leadership, we're in a place where we have an opportunity to step back look at our
system and redesign and look at it for intentionally. So when we talk about
performance, I do want u to only ask how many people did we serve. I want us to ask our
residents becoming more stable because of our work and our investments. And when someone
does experience experience homelessness, how quickly and equitably are we helping them
to return to housing and housing stability? I get to do my own sites. All right. So
and what do we do? Housing stability? could give you address of how we stood It's
it's roll that is larger than administrating individual programs. We helped lead
coordinator if and improve Ramsey counties broader homelessness response that
includes working across county departments with the community providers to connect residents
with the right housing resources and support. Housing, Stability Department
also serves as the lead agency for heading home. Ramsey. That's Ramsey counties,
continuum of care. I wanted to distinguish the 2 housing stability Department is the
county department. Well, heading from Ramsey is the broader community
collaborative. Our role is to help coordinate that work but not do it alone. The links on
this slide provide more information about both housing stability Department as well
as heading home Ramsey. In case you need to learn more on how those departments work
together. The 3 measures that we selected. Look at a different point in our housing
stability system. The eviction prevention measure are asking whether we
are keeping residents housed before homelessness occurs. The bundling measure looks at
how effectively we coordinate our financial resources when a resident is experiencing a
housing crisis. And the court Nathan Entry measure looks at how long single adults who are
already experiencing homelessness remain on the priority list before
connecting them to a housing opportunity. Together. Tese measures tell us more. Then
the number of services we provide. They begin to tell us whether residents are becoming
more stable. Whether county investments are producing the outcomes. We intended and
where the system still needs to improve. The measure in presenting today, the measures
I am presenting today are the same for measure measures that you'll see reflected on
county's open data portal. My goal today is to add context about what the numbers mean,
what the numbers mean for residents. What effect the results and how we are using
this information to improve the overall system. No 3 measures can tell the entire
complexity of housing stability story. I want us to think about these has
connected indicators of the larger system, but not as isolated numbers are systems.
The first measure that we're going to look at is the average number of days single
adults spend on the coordinated entry priority list. The reason
we pick single adults is because that is a measure that we can track internally. One
thing about the coordinated entry system that is unique in Ramsey County is that we have
for entry points to that system. We have a family You side.
>> People experiencing domestic violence and single adults, single adults.
Priority list is maintained by Ramsey County internally. And it's a good measure for us to
take a look at. We connected this measure to racial and ht health equity and shared
community power because race and ethnicity should not predict how long someone
experiences homelessness. It also requires us to listen to residents respect President
choice and include people with lived experience a we read redesign and look at native
country. I want to be careful here because coordinated entry can be difficult to explain.
The priority list is not a traditional first-come. First-serve waiting list.
People are not simply given a number and are waiting for their turn. Housing referrals
dependent. Eligibility priority that Haitian household need that type of
housing intervention that you require available pogram openings. documentation as
well as resident choice. But that complexity does not mean the amount of time someone
spends on the list does not matter. If someone spends hundreds of days on the
priority list, those are not just stays in the database. Those can be days and shelter.
Those coming days outside. Those can be days doubled up are moving back and forth
between temporary situations and those are days that someone is experiencing
homelessness. This data shows meaningful improvement in the overall average. At the
same time, this number does not tell the whole story. Housing availability and
system capacity have a significant effect on how quickly someone can move and
the next phase are into housing. We also need to look underneath the overall
average. Wait times remain different across race and ethnicity,
ethnic groups, overall improvement is not enough. If these disparities remain. Here
at 6. >> We want real quick question. Around the at 2030,
go. We see, as he said, that's 180 days for all. Is that what do you mean by that? It's on
the side to side bar and a key contacts. >> Health Commissioner Iran.
If you give me a moment as I walk through this, I will get a what they mean if you can
100 remember your question. I don't visit. Success means both shorter, more equitable.
Wait times are 2030. Goal is to reduce the average 280 days for all residents was closing
disparities in access and outcomes. So that was meaning that as you can see in 20 30,
we are trying to save overall that everybody on the list has a weight of 180 days are less
to their next phase. So that is what that means. That's our anticipation that we would
like to see 23, what is it now right now in 2025? The average wait is 881 days. forward to
the plan. We currently have race and ethnicity, data connected to the coordinated
entry measure. >> For prevention measures, we are also examining what
demographic and geographic information is available so that we can better understand
who is receiving this assistance, who is not and whether any disparities
remain. Our goal is not simply to manage the list better. It's to shorten the path to
housing and make shorter. >> Moving on to our second measure, which is evictions,
prevented an eviction court. This is very specific to eviction court, not prevention
in general. Overall, there's 2 different distinctions there. >> These ae a measure we've
connected to the residence, entered holistic support. >> Because preventing eviction
is about more than paying rent. It can productor as it can protect the residents,
employment a child's education, access to health care, transportation and the
House held overall stability. We also know that if you are house, it's important to keep
you in that house because we have a vacancy rate of less than 2.5% here in Ramsey
County. And so we want to keep people stably housed when we can. It is our goal to make
from listeners rare. This is where that work really begins. Every eviction we successfully
prevent represents a household that may never enter need to enter the homelessness
response system at all. And that means shorter days. That means avoiding shelter. And
that means eviction, stopping before they even enter eviction can disrupt
employment. School, transportation, credit, future housing opportunities and a
helpful to connection to their own community, housing for intervention gives us an
opportunity to resolve that crisis before it becomes larger and more expensive.
Beginning in 2027 Ramsey County is making sick, significant investment of an
additional 2 million of their funding to expand eviction prevention and housing
support. This investment creates an opportunity and a responsibility to keep
strength strengthening. How we measure results. We should we should note only ask many
evictions we prevented. We should also ask whether those really residents remain
stable, housed. They have be on their immediate housing crisis intervention. So we're
trying to look at data at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months to ensure that the
household state housed as well as give light case management to make sure that if they
enter into another crisis, they're not coming back to us for additional support. This
is where the quality matters and why are walking along The families really are helpful.
Previous data shows us if we do emergency assistance, usually that's an emergency
assistance. They receive rental help, but they don't receive any case management
budgeting skills to prevent that crisis from happening again. This additional
investment, the connections to community partners that operate the eviction court and
prevention dollars have the capacities to provide that light touch case management
that families need to make sure that prevention is sustainable. We have a
question. director welcomes. >> Yeah. Sorry. was left high we're kind digesting in real
time. But I my question for you is and perhaps I know we're in the performance
indicators but you see that as an additional 2 million dollars. There's going towards
eviction prevention going into fund eviction court, eviction in extension for 26. 27 of the
law had dollars investment. >> They're also that is not mention as when we were
talking about the use as know that there is an additional 5 million investment from FHP
AP funding which I will get to in the next slide. And we're talking about bundling of
cases. But that's an additional resource. And that is not limited to eviction
court. That's prevention overall. >> So tonight I asked a
support organization. That reviewing the packet ahead of time. I want to make sure Im
asking questions in the right order. Is there or having performance measures? But will
there be discussion on specifics of the budget interact with us in the slides
or do we just asked them as we go along the the ladder? on on our budget packet. The when
I'm looking at housing, stability services, it looks like we we go from. 13 million
in in fiscal year. 25 to the approved budget and fiscal year. 26 at 16 Million. And
then the 27 approved budget goes down to 12 Million. So is that 2 million from the funds?
Additional dollars from a different are they not going? And I'm just trying to square
the numbers here with anything like that. I directed to some of our fiscal team, but
>> the law funds >> they are over three-year period. If that makes
>> There's some accounting that we have to do like the what year we sort of receive
them versus when they have to be spent. If that makes sense, I'm not sure exactly how it
showing up. And in terms of the distribution in the budget document. So we can either
follow up for somebody healthy. If you can following on the exact distribution of
like there's kind of multiple changes that happening at the same time. So can kind of get
that OK? And that's great. I think, you know, some of that's helpful because some.
>> As folks are who may be watching these presentations and seeing some of the
documents than that. You know, when you look at the high level accounting of one dollar
amount for a whole department, it goes up and down and it can be confusing to follow along.
So just knowing that that information is is in the budget and the Web saying we
can do the digging and make sure we get that information. >> OK, thank you. Thank you.
Thank you for the question. >> I will mention in the last one evictions prevention 4th
court you'll will see the increase up to 1900 cases. That is due to the increase in
funding and will be able to serve more cases. An eviction court. The 3rd measure is the
number of FHP AP, which is family homelessness, prevention assistance program.
>> A state, a state funded program. These cases really looking at bundled cases where
we're looking emergency assistance. Emergency general assistance or other diversion.
Diversion resources. We connected this measure to operational excellence because
it really shows how well our funding sources, our staff and our community partners, are
working together. But working together. The goal is to Max abut maximize are available
resources, reduce duplication, used staff time effectively and make the process easier
for residents. Bundling happens when one funding source is not enough to
resolve a household's housing crisis. Staff and providers combined eligible resources to
close gaps and help the household remained housed. There are 2 sides of this
measure, however, that I think are important to look at. On one hand, the increase shows
that we are getting better at leveraging our available resources. The increased FHP
AP and local affordable housing AKA, lie have funding along with stronger
coordination with our community partners has allows to combine resources when one
program cannot meet the full need and to help more residents remain housed.
>> That is important because maximizes gants and county resources. It strengthens
partnerships and creates more opportunities to resolve crisis before it leads to
homelessness. But Moore, bundling does not automatically mean better
performance. increase also tells us that taking and it's taking more money to resolve
evictions our housing crisis. So there's larger rent and larger. We are is that we are
seeing our utilities and housing-related costs have increased.
>> And one programs maximum benefit is not enough to longer feels at It also tells
us something about scared that even when we combine our programs are not always enough
resources to meet every household to Bundling helps the stretch are available
dollars, but it is not created an limit. It doesn't create unlimited funding when several
researchers sources contribute to one case, fewer dollars may remain for the next household
that is seeking help. There's also a significant staff capacity component behind the
scenes when you're coordinating 2 or 3 funding sources, it can require
multiple eligibility reviews, different documentation. Approvals landlord,
communications coordination between county staff and all of the providers and careful
tracking to ensure that each funding sources used correctly and adequately and euitably.
This can also place pressure on individual agencies. Provider may need to hold the
case open court in with several organizations help the residents gather their
documentation just to cover the gap with the flexible resources. But the
coordination can produce a better outcome. But it does take real staff time and
organizational capacity. So the benefits are clear. We're leveraging our resources are
closing larger gaps and we're helping more residents remain housed. The challenges are
also clear that we needed one system to sort of help us coordinate the bundling of
these services. So there's burdened staff. And it's not just simply to bundle more.
But our goal is to coordinate or resources behind the scenes and also create a wonder Prote
for families. So they're not going to several organizations are the county to tell their
prevention story over and over again that they're getting help in one location and that
they don't have to worry about all of the things it takes to bundle.
>> That they're not aware of. >> Director welcomes. We have a question from yes,
Commissioner John. >> thank you. Director Watkins. I think you're doing
great job. I've just articulating apartment 4 months measures and the goals
connecting to it. You know, I didn't want to go back to the slide the average number of
days on the coordinated entry. And then also tie that in with the budget that you have laid
out and we are look, we are you know, in department's budget, shrinking and your
goals are really to be do said, cut the wait time in half. Essentially. What is
that strategy the year? And then also when you're looking at the housing capacity or
like housing availability, what what types of housing are you are we looking for for
residents and also are we tracking that about types of housing that's needed to
support families or in individuals in this case on the court. they didn't
request. Commissioner John, thank you for the question. One of the biggest things that
we're looking at who cut those days down is a system redesign.
>> we have not had a coordinated entry system redesign since the inception
of coordinated entry here at Ramsey County. One of those things are really having us.
Take a look. Creative Italy, innovative Lee at the current system that we have identify
the gaps. staffing needs sort of the challenges that could maybe have us. Tell us the
bigger picture so implementing that will take some time, obviously for that to do that.
But one of the things that I feel that we could do better with the resources that we
currently have. What we do know it is a strain system and there is not enough resources.
However, there are some creative things and other community partners in other
systems that we can rely and example of that could look right now for the coordinated
entry system in order to get an assessment as a single adult, yet to be long-term
homeless are panicked. The homeless. There are other people that are doing that a
little different than we do in Ramsey County. One step is looking at housing problem
solving which means your pathway just isn't to get on the court native entry list
that might be looking at a housing problem. Solving model may be pairing up with
somebody rent an apartment together. It might be treatment. Might be your
pathway out of the system and into aassisted living program that fits your needs. So w do
need to look at the whole entire continuum, but we have not explored the pathway such
as rapid rehousing transitional housing. We do have some permanent supportive
housing stock. Another part of that system redesign Israeli currently looking at our
staff. We do have some vacancies where people can move. You know, if we get
people move from shelter into those vacancy that opens up additional shelter beds and so
on. So it's really looking at that system design and it's hard to put a dollar amount
even where we at without that designed to show our deficiencies and some of our
cats. So that is where we're looking at decreasing that number. The other part is
really taking a really good hard look at that list. It has not been looked at and went
through. There's a lot of people that self resolved that have been housed,
unfortunately passed away. So that will also contribute to us getting those I'm waiting
days doubt down longer. >> Will you be working on that? Let's where your team
are. Is that the focus for this year that for next year? >> Commissioners. that is the
focus for this year and next year as well. OK? >> And then the other part
that I would just wanted you to lift a name that you said really fast. just emphasize is
the resources that's actually needed right now to keep someone how list that even the
bundling of those resources are not enough. What are you also keeping track about like
what is needed so that we can tell that story and share that with our state legislators.
>> Commissioner John, that is an excellent question. Yes, keeping tack not only of the
amount of money it takes to prevent the eviction cases, the ones that we get approved,
the ones that get tonight, the ones that are not eligible, we do get those dollar amounts
when they do the eviction filing. We also have a place in FHP AP where we're looking
at those dollar amounts as well. When people come in and so where we are keeping that
data. So how much is that that's needed. As far as overall? Yeah, for this and
also for coordinated entry. >> Commissioner that's an excellent question. I would
have to get. Back to you and prevention dollars. We do not have enough to prevent every
household that is the plane. >> To eviction court and or even prevention services. So
that dollar is hard to quantify. More dollars mean more cases doesn't necessarily
mean that all of the evictions are. Resolved. So I can get back to you on that number for
the coordinated entry redesign. We are looking at roughly 50,004, that
consultant to come into that redesigning. Create that report for us for this year.
Thank you. >> Commissioner McMurtry Dan Miller. Thank you. Madam
Chair. >> Really appreciate this presentation. My question
mostly stems around looking at the entire house and continue on and the role that housing
stability plays. But also knowing that there is a partnership internally with
CD. So I wanted to allow some space to kind of speak to what that collaboration looks like
and how that will also support the efforts that that think to us today.
>> Commissioner McMurtry, that is an excellent question. Since I had started my tenure
here at Ramsey County. I've worked really closely with the E D I'm not only with
prioritizing in developing the funds across the continuum, but also the investments that
they are making is creating more affordable housing stock so that the families that are
moving from that continuum have a place to move and that permanent supportive housing
that affordable husing area. That is where a lot of those families will land in the
increase of that sack will also help see those wait days in 2020, 30, go down. And you
share France with CVS. >> We use it. But just for all.
>> Those well listening watching what is the Ramsey County Department. would do
the time. You okay community. Thank The internal it just thank you, commissioner, in.
>> Commissioner Miller. Yes. I just have a couple questions on the last slide you shared
with us the first bullet point on what's changed with our increase in the FHP AP an
dollars is this is the work that's going that's being done through our housing,
stability, Department or and with the heading home. Ramsey. Group as well. combination of
both. >> Commissioner Miller, thank you for the question. So the
family homeless Prevention assistant program. FHP AP is a state funded program. Rmsey
County is the grantee have and we have several grant. He that we oversee in that work and it
is not through the heading home. Ramsey It is just to the Ramsey County departments
individually. So we oversee those contracts with several agencies to do the work that
are also usually involved in the heading home. Ramsey continue in direct. Okay.
Yeah. The can and the government have >> And then with the redesign
of that, which I think is a fabulous idea. Someone who used to work in community and
>> one of my sister programs always use the coordinated entry, less. I heard many
times about the frustrations with the coordinated entry system. that be developed in
collaboration with community as well. So with the heading home, Ramsey, well, that just
be an internal. In department develop. That's an excellent question. And it will be done
broadly with cmmunity partners. Service providers live expertise.
>> As well as the heading home Ramsey governing board. will lead to that community
members. It will be not just internally with Ramsey County, but with all of our partners
in community. Perfect. Thank you so much, Commissioner >> Yes, back to the budget. I
think that just wanted to follow up on the question from Commissioner Sean nt that I
am opposed to us finding cost savings. In fact, that is a big part of what are our role
is going to be in the next coming years. But the housing stability when they see that
it went from fiscal year. 25 we were at it's safe, 13 million again and then went
to 16 26 and now it's down to 12. And I guess I would just like to know, was or specific
investments that were built and to 26 or I just want to. I'm just curious hear that
narrative, the story of the development of that. I can take Madam Chair Commissioner
Kevin saying. >> So with because this is such a grant heavy from the
department and the grants are allocated to us each year by the sales tax. We don't
account for them till come in. If that makes sense. And then you see some of our budget
adjustments for various departments to the requests for board actions. So a lot of
kind of like the budget is a snapshot in time. And we do our best understanding of what
kind of we anticipated know is there. But in the case of La Pine, the second-year, what
what you're not seeing and 27 is that those lava buns. So we've accounted for in 2026 of
funds. We have not counted the 2027 lot half and s those will get put in the budget
when Dr Wilkins. Welcome back. At some point with 27 Rba to say this is how we're gonna
spend the money, including the eviction court plan as well. So we kind of do it little
different for every department. Some are able to project what has worked for
Specter. We kind of knew what our allocations or workforce. And so we sort could put place
holders and they're generally knowing the formula in a case where there's some of this
fluctuation, we sort of wait a little bit and we want the board to be able to drive a
little more of that. The policy side of that, too, as well through either board
workshops or through actual r-va that help. That's all. There's not a reduction in
housing. Stability is budget and 27 that that that helps me tremendously. I and the reason
I bring this up is because now and in this prticularly year, there's been a lot of concerns
about how we're supporting housing. Stability is. I wanted to make sure there
wasn't some kind of significant programmatic changes that I draw back from
our commitment to that. So just knowing that this is a. >> When the law funds get
recorded on the books is very comforting to me. Thank you. >> commission of making a I
think you Madam chair, the kind of thinking back off with the kind of management knowing
that. Grant applications play a big role in the funding of housing stability with the
passage of the new federal housing law. Are there potential opportunities that
we're looking at in 2 of county that we could potentially get additional
funding or just want to get a sense of how that law impact potential potential funding
opportunities for this particular department. >> Thank Madam Chair
Commissioner McMurtry. So we've been tracking a lot of the work being packed about it
all and be around just federal grants in general and sort of the different restrictions
that might come. In addition as part of our overall half at work that we've been tracking
around all federal funding, you know, around the know fo for that continuum of care.
That's that's another area where there's grant funds for housing. I mean, housing funds
are kind of and multiple agencies honestly in in the federal government. I think a
lot of that tied up in court and we have been active with our county attorney's office
to protect our rights to ensure that we are able to access grants that align with
our values and to ensure that we being really thoughtful about what types of funds we
take in order to ensure that we're able to serve our community based on the news
that they have that make I obviously we are significantly this is a significantly grant
from the department. Federal funds are a big part of the work of the department and of
the continuum of care. However, you know this, this is a moment where we're in a
little more of a protective state than Then that and overly exert of like being
able find grand state, you know, just because of that the tenor of the federal grants
that except yeah. >> The numbers are important, but they did not fully. So
what it feels like for residents navigate the system are what changes when the
system works. The first story on the slide that clled out comes from a Ramsey County
eviction court client trying to remain housed. I want to share it in the residence own
words. My car broke down and I had to get it fixed so I could keep getting to work that put
me behind my rent. I applied for eergency assistance and got denied. So I started
calling around trying to help trying to look for help. I went to 3 different places and
had to tell the same story every time I didn't know which program I needed. I just know
knew I needed help with my rent. This resident was not thinking about which county
for which grant program they needed. They were really trying to solve one immediate
problem, how to catch up on rent, how to avoid losing their housing and how to keep
their job from our side. We may see separate funding streams from the residents
perspective. It's just one crisis. The second from a Ramsey County for Nathan Entry
client having a home changed everything I can think about work, my family and what comes
next. Instead of just getting through the day. That is that is the outcome behind the
coordinated entry measure because reducing the days on that list matter because it
means a resident can move from surviving homelessness to thinking about work, family
and housing, stability and dream about what comes next. These both example show both
sides of the continuing helping a family remain house before homelessness occurs,
but also helping them return. At 2 housing after their homelessness crisis. When I
step back and look across all 3 measures, ICU for clear directions for our work first
prevent earlier we need to expand eviction prevention and strengthen housing,
stabilization before residents enter homelessness. Second simplify access. We need to
coordinate resources and reduce the number of systems that residents must navigate
to rceive help. When staff can assess the full need once and identify the right
combination of resources, we can reduce duplication, duplication of applications,
repeated eligibility reviews, unnecessary referrals and efficient staff. Time that we
have spent will be a resident from one program to another. And we need to shorten the
path to housing. We need to reduce the coordinated entry time. We need to strengthen
our housing pathways and make better use of our available housing opportunities. We need
to address racial and ethnic disparities in access and outcomes and look at other
housing stability and create more affordable housing pathways. 4th, we need to
continue read. Is that redesigning the system? Our response needs to work across
prevention outreach, encampment, shelter, coordinated entry,
stabilization and permanent housing. This is also a stewardship, Staton strategy.
Better coordination helps us maximize our federal dollars are state grant our local
affordable housing aid and our county resources. It reduces duplication and make sure that
we don't grant fund on the table that are using our dollars where their possible.
We're using the right funding for the right purpose. Shelter is an important emergency
intervention, but it's not the entire system. Housing is the long-term outcome. The
question is not only how we improve our individual programs. It is how the
overall system could operate differently to produce better resident outcomes and make the
best use of our public resources. And when I step back and look at all 3 of
these measures together, I do not see 3 separate programs are 3 different pathways. I
just see housing stability system. I see where we have an opportunity to prevent and to
get somebody housed. I see residents trying to nvigate resources that we've built a
separate programs, even though they're experiencing a crisis. And I see people who've
already entered homelessness waiting far too long for a pathway back to housing. That
is why these measures are important they help us understand what our investment
are. What is changing for residents and whether the system is improving and where
we can and should do better. Our goal is not simply to report performance. It is to
use what we are learning to make homelessness. Rare, brief and nonrecurring and to build
a system that is easier for residents to navigate more equitable and its outcomes and
more effective and how we use all of our public resources together as a community. you.
>> Commissioner, good Thank you for thank you so much for reminding us what's with the
work that's going on behind these numbers. One of the questions that I have is I
know earlier this summer, some of our emergency housing in our shelter dollars and things
like that were driven by decisions that happening within the same park
community. And I guess I want to broaden out to the idea heading home. Ramsey is up as
a broader collective of partnerships and so that's the first part of my question is,
is how many o our other local municipalities and other governmental entities are
participating in that as our as our partners in this work. that's kind of a predecessor
to the second question, which is as our municipalities are going through their own comp
plans, another kind of things. What are specific things in your world and your piece of
the house and specifically could be supportive housing and other things that we can
be educating and and walking alongside our our governmental partners as they're
envisioning what's right for their communities and encouraging them to help us
meet our goals that the county. >> Commissioner Kevin saying
thank you for the question. Heading home. Ramsey intentionally asked every
municipality from every county, our story from every district in the county. So
suburban is included in the seats and the steering committee in the work groups
as well as on the governing board is representation. A lot of those are either through
service providers or the school district in which they serve are where they're coming
from. And they have a very active voice at those tables. I also would say to your
second part of your question, there are lots of conversations, for example,
another city has reached out a city of Ramsey County that said we have led dollars that
we would like to combine to stretch again for some of those bundling cases. That's
an example of how that that education can be helpful. Also, when we're looking at
expanding either shelter capacity, affordable housing units really giving them
education as to where to find the resources to increase. That stock would also be
really appreciated so that we have places when people do get housing vouchers that they
could use those vouchers at even if those are in our suburban as cities and the
county that education is really iportant goes a long way to work along the
continuum. Thank you. >> Directive opened one quick question on expenditure side
the supplemental Budget request for 2, 1, to 27,000 wanted to 2027. It may be on
this is can you share what those dollars will be spent on? got much. 27,000 warning
to 2027 under the supplemental proposed budget. There's an increase of 2.27. And you me
what that What effect there? >> That is actually a movie and director of admin salaries
from like the general account into the service So we're just kind of shifting that fte and
cost between where it was budgeted for in 20 6 into appropriate service team which
as CSS. Rather housing stability, specifically. thank you.
>> All right. So we don't have further questions. Want to thank you for your
presentation. Your the work to the coordination and the support to stabilize families.
Crucially important. I know have strong value for the county and I look forward to
seeing the work in detail and and a coronation. It's going to happen get us in better
place. Yes, thank Madam Chair. Before we wrap up thank yu, Dr Wilkins. Thank you for
being the new director and starting U.S. off this year. That is wonderful.
>> You said a great bar. So thank you. I just want commissioner difference in
your original question. But when asked the budget questions, certainly
everything we've done here is perfectly appropriate is what we can and should be doing.
neglected to say that we will get a presentation on the agenda that is in your folder
tomorrow budget director Louis. So it's normally kind of flows with the operation
Service team instance are going tomorrow dcide not kind of start with that today. So
just know some of the agenda, things that were changes. We'll be covering tomorrow, a
little more thoroughly for you. But, you know, obviously of department question those
be addressed along the way here. Thank you. Yeah. All right. Thank you.
>> So we want to welcome Director Ali Ali was going to present on the financial
assistance Services. That we have here in Ramsey County. Please introduce yourself in
future. >> Good Chair Commissioners court wanted an adjustment
spoke to the members of the public. My name on the director of national of those
Services Department. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss financial assistance services
to supplement but performance measures. However, if a stock to buy a ticket, or if a
single use. The progress you will see today left is core question. Is And commitment? 2
times the county residents. U.S. policy changes includes the value and the complexity
world. remain folks. It on policy will stone things capacity and accountability
and sustaining timely and effective delivery. To performance is measured not
only by the numbers, but also by the expedience comes get a that we serve. As we review
all caught on the full moons. We also preparing for the significant a petition often
finacial post position want. These changes. increase in village will float effect home
residents, axis maintain access to social benefits, quiet 10 for the Minutemen
Titian or multiple budget to come. Today. I want to focus what those number 8 numbers
tell us about president's expedience. Residents able to access services. receiving the
help that they need. We delivering services timely and effective. live overtime.
Financial assistance, services of city's more than 10 public system. Progress that comes to
come to distance excess food assistance. Health care, emergency assistance, child
care and other social supports. These are the states buys come to administer. The
program is governor by state and federal requirements. A lot of stuff. Determined
initial and ongoing image ability by collecting information through a issues.
Interviews. I think one cations. We also commit to dissidents with all county and
community resources to needs the old the programs we don't to get used to. Students can
access or substances to set the for us. Committed to bottom of commissions,
telephones and a lot options. Holder said the symphony's became part of is in 2025. The
schools are aligned give us a son of that unity to by him or could be needed. And holistic
expedience helping residents of this needed needs. also identify other services that
support stability. Before most major on more reporting requirements. They help
understand whether to put it because of a little. Whether we are using public resources
responsibly. And when we have The first looks whole because his weight from the time they
arrive of this him finish on that petition. The looks at the percentage of residents
reported receiving the help that they need it. The 3rd measure. All measures, whether
we process not publication within for that out of time to On the floor examine is
whether emergency assistance. looked generous system. Fund hoping presidency, Minh and
housing. Because of the Metro before work. These 4 measures connected closely with Ramsey
County is strategic priorities. Additional taxes president sent to police to
support. Richelle and hope they can ensure that communities color. Together.
These measures help understand axis. quality, timeliness on housing, stability. It also
strengthen or come to be lifted. 2 presidents. You know what, Conan state and for the
departments. This court accountability would b critical as we move to our
world or titian opposed his emotional one. There is so would seem to be look, chief
to buy finish a sense of this is low. If we look to the Ramsey come to a porch and
that part of issue we hall with housing, stability. Well, for a solution is public
health Social Services committee told goes Ishan is health provider is long roads
and many others. You will also a common theme throughout presentation. Continuous
improvements. demand grows us to Disney does become work on We are continually moving all
across the It's parking issues, investing in technology making didn't
conform to position is so we can put sort sums it come to the This Magill, if yu can
see in this light truck is the time from when this is done. All right. and checks. The end
of this think kills when they began meeting with the staff member for initiative edition.
In 2023. The average wait. Time was 40 minutes. It increased to 22 minutes in
2024. Reflecting the significant a bubble delays and the myth that stuff in
Quebec City. In 2025. We pulled route with time. Don't to 60 Minutes. That
improvement. So what's the holdup? Additional changes beginning to make a
difference. We have to strengthen its staff in coverage. Adjusted will
expanded Silvas some tough questions, a new roof. The collection is a proposed of
the something in If it is going to put a operations. We're moving in the right
direction. But we still have to do goals. 15 minutes by 2028. 10 minutes by 22.
Presidents come close check on with times on the county website before visiting the
set of the Sumter. Helping them decide when and where to seek the best. Some
assistance. Ultimately Goldsmith's invalid to move people through the building.
It's also to reduce the bidders. by the time, the axis and ensure future president is
committed to rights of is when they need. This measure to whether the students felt.
They the help. They need it when visiting a 70 something. It reflect this whole
commitment to a shooting that comes the county is serving president Mr calling and
meeting that identified needs. Their results. Wilson it percent in 20 in both 2022.
2023. It declined to 87% in 2020 full and can moved to Miami in 20 to 25. Goals a 10%
by 2028. on 95% by 2050. He started call this information came from and serve a sentence
or V. Beginning in late 2025. We moved to Rio time temp 70. This allows visitors to you
Shortly receiving the services they need. And help us identify who sends and make
this slats and wanted to put into suspected school. It us understand whether residents
received them for the systems on how we can continue something. Could the mission
communication and effective service delivery? Direct Ali with a question country.
>> Thank you. Madam Chair. Do you know what the sample sizes for the srveys? How many
folks are we going to complete? The survey is to get numbers.
>> Good question. Sohl. We have tracking the numbers because this symbol of is the
this only the people that came to the center investing as you could imagine. You know, we
more people with get you all some So that number had been the case 0. 25, I don't have
the number in front of me, but that was above 400 you know, 81 people in 2025, which is
much can cause from year's If you just attended people that this is something that with
this in a fixed this you that we can capture more on time. >> this in one moment
Direction. Commissioner backpack to that last slide. I'm just curious hw the
survey is. If the >> one question is basically looking at the time that
somebody you know, is waiting in line to win. They can help too. Did they get the help?
Does this mean that the reason why they came in to get help that they receive the services
that they need or they got the information that they need. How are we navigating that? If
I come with a need and I come to you for to answer a question, I might get
information that answers my question. But that might not necessarily actually get m
the assistance that I need. How is this worded? How do gather that information? What
are we looking at here? >> Very good question. Comes jump in to see. So this tough
this truck people Campos said the center is person for home that you That's some
historical context and this, you know, doing Cano peak times when we had a huge
backlog and delays. We have seen a number of people waiting in a way time for very
long So that is significant improvement to make the connection.
>> As they can. So vendors from one to another, some people they just need. You
know, some Jennifer Mission, some they need that help. So the intent of this tracking
this lab. But the company's resolution is about the connection. But people making
with that staff member. >> Good to know. I just I mean, it's a deeper question
that when I'm asking, which is when people come to us from help, they receive the help
they need. I that's beyond survey you can do after being service center. I just wanted
to make sure that that's what we're tracking. Thank you. That's
>> The data important, but the president's bus just on what it expedient speed is like.
These comments you see on that on that slide, bring to the performance measure life.
president described to stop us from Helpful patient on respect for. They also
appreciated receive including 4 mission. I'm being connected to the resources they need. I
want to recognize stuff is for this. For the work they do every day. Often helping
residents navigate complex systems, buildings to this friends. We also know every
experience positive. There time survey gives us quicker feedback so we can recognize
what's working. I don't if I can sense and make improvements. Goal is to
listen. And use that as invoice to strengthen 7 this quality responsiveness across
defense operations. >> Director only go back to pace. because I am like really
impress. With those remarks. Thank you. Received from someone you serve. Can you
read what residents voiced what they say? It? >> Yes, chair come to be that
Seoul has been described to staff us friendly. Okay, helpful. Patient. Don't expect
full. And the second one. president described staff as friendly, helpful patient.
spectacle. >> This is what every young man working to provide housing
assistance provided me with such amazing assistance. Im really blew me out of the
water was his knowledge and his patients. It gave me hpe for the future for myself
resources. I needed to attain that future. Also reports that. At the service that was
provided. I just want just to read that right? Because hasn't always been that People
been frustrated they have waited in line very long time. You know, assistant has not
always I just want to show them, you know how we have have a service center has
improved. The lives of people that come to for help. So I think it's worth reading
commission member. Thank you for that. Madam Chairman. I think it is very important to
lift up the. >> The voices from residents have these good experiences.
>> I also want to make sure that we are hearing or getting a sense of how we're gathering
information from staff as well because, you know, this work is hard and they're reaching
folks and communicating with folks to some of their lowest of low moments that matter at
times will cause emotions to run high, but didn't have manage that on top of
managing, you know, helping up to individual. Do we in any consistent input from staff on
how they're feeling throughout these experiences as well up there, you know, getting the
resources tey need, that they are also feeling safe in environments. What does that?
The look like tomorrow? And that's that's the continue to do our due diligence to help
these residents to make sure that that staff are also filling the support that they
need. >> Thank you to this is very, important question for the
last. If he if there is been good to a lot of to the station, including, you know,
coach of change, including stops uphold. We have been investing the to do more
training more. So this is what they need. >> We have completed more than
160 stuff that through no customer training. >> To support to them. We also
work. I'm going to continue to reduce the case goes that he hopes will able to manage more
cases more effectively the people that they serve. But this work us uses vivid
difficult as vivid a toe injury is it be a little bit, you know, some of his will to
do so. We know that we know the challenges we tried to bring all resources with your
support with the board's support, but it's an investment we're going to
continue to make changes that we have seen this in changes. You know, as we have seen over
the last few So we appreciate the support that continue. Still to from this board.
>> county manager, Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. So before we move of service right center
directly, I thought I'd just put up and then the evolution of the work at the service
centers because I've been with the county, you know, almost 8 or 9 years now. And I know
some of the board members remember some of these conversations, but I think
it's important to just recount some of these conversations. We went from having a lot of
discussions about how to deliver where to deliver services. Some of you remember
we had a significant study around just the physical facilities of how we do
service cnters. We continue to evolve that we continue to do today. As we have now been
talking about more mobile or other services that work as that's been a journey and why
I want to get stop here is because of what Commissioner Graham was saying like this.
We're constantly evolving to making sure we meet the needs of our residents. I remember
significant conversations about the persona and the skill set that we need for
navigators. The board had significant conversations about the type of qualities we
wanted to see. And I've seen Ali and his team really in partnership with all the lots
of support of departments in the organization. We have transformed the way we do this
both in terms of the physical places where we're doing it, how we're doing it obviously
COVID and some of the moves that we've done really has evolved. How it's not just
about F a S in terms of how we use the service centers. Now, the customer service training
and the way w've thought through the navigator role. I mean, those are all parts of
the story that get us to today. And I think the evolution of even that
feedback from residents on the previous measure. That was some feedback from the board
at one time. I think in a previous measure when this came through, it was a one
time kind of survey point in time that we did once a year, I think and the boards that,
you know, that doesn't seem like a quite the measure we want. We want to make sure
we're having I touch point. And so I just want to keep saying we're with this is
operational excellence. We will continue to improve. I appreciate Commissioner Kevin
saying wanting to ask a little more like are we asking the right things? Are we centering
the right things? It is an ongoing effort. The fact that we are texting folks using no,
wait inside that you can go online and see how long the wait is like you can at like
the urgency room. I mean, it is a big these are leaps and bounds for for the county in
terms of how we've improved. And so I just really want to think, Ali, for and his tam
but didn't rest the rest of the county to this has been a big, significant live for all
of us to make this transformation. But there's more work to do. And so I just
want to say, you know, even these measures themselves like over it, when you see them
again, maybe in 2 years, maybe will be a point maybe looking at them slightly different to
get a little deeper into how we've improved. But I do really appreciate that. It's
it's a journey, right? And we've seen a lot of change, especially Commissioner Black
Commissioner Ortega have you know, I think this is evolved a lot since when we delivered
services on the 4th floor of the East building. So appreciate that and thought,
you know, before we transition, just good to know. That's what multiple budgets
have done. It is not a one budget situation. have invested significant capital
and other resources that we've evolved. The physical locations and added Fte is
over over the creation of navigators. And this is srt of journey of that. thank you.
continue. Move into the next life. All has led pledge of trucks 6, but I want expedite
its not commission is. >> Persist within little tenderness. So that it's not
the big issues to be persist within 7 days or 5 business days. Read a lot of the
commission is within It the for the for that up into m is 95% of for both As you can see
on this Just 30.0, reflect significant challenges over the Pacific or use. Including
about looks studying the magician is and the need to process is. Ad 2025 22%
fixed. But I because she is and 70% regular pick a shoesmith for the time this.
By much of 2026, those results improved to 46% But I The commission is 87% for
patients. This is and meaningful progress. Vole both images from a below. The 95%
of for department's. Since the last the full we have organized the walk and a
Sanders specialized that the folks expedited big issues residents with the most I want
to the cone, a bull, the cone into the issue for the investment. And if it is.
Those investments, as you just spoke to vote, just announced another was starving
foundation is. And possessing compass. We are now preparing for the addition of will moved
to soak in and all from This isn't Nooyi position. Is that that the what just approved,
including Florida if he is Decatur to stop program would help us manage increased and
that you put it to good use, into quadrants and in the city will be. This possibility is
to translate this investment into improved timeliness, unimaginable results to folks
that training will management accountability in a position and movement? Commissioner
Jeffrey C? >> Yes, I know that we talked about extensively the impacts
of HR one when we looked at the at addition of those new FDA says if 2 east to support
this work. But I think seeing the performance measures here really puts I viewpoint of
what happens when these roles, these mandated administrative services are not properly
funded. And the idea of when when addition additional administrative requirements
are placed on te county's. if we do not then have funding or resources dedicated to meet
those new administration, what happens with the service delivery times and what
happens to getting people connected to services that they're eligible for and then
have have a right to be able to have those ports as part of a, you know, broader
programming decisions throughout that our state and federal levels. And I just I
want just to highlight that the idea. But, you know, we get a lot from our our
constituents who say, well, if they don't fund it than just don't do it. And I think
balance of one, we'd still have the responsibility to do this work and to do with
fidelity in to serve our community. But also when these when these programs are piece
of this eligibility of these programs goes on uder resourced, how it impacts our
community and we properly resourced them. As you see in your improvements in 2026.
what that could mean for community. And so I'm very happy that we're tying these
performance measures with their budget allocations. And it's a it's a good time to be
able to see how these numbers directly to impact community and how they receive our
services. So thank you for for highlighting that. Even all these numbers don't make us
feel really great. But it is a direct reflection of what happens when more work comes
without the resources to meet that. Thank yo commissioner. You know, the investment that
we get, the more we could include celebration excellence E.
>> We continue to challenge yourself and see what we commit. Those changes that
could have this in full so investment matters of question. Commissioner Miller
and Chris is on >> are these numbers tied to our error rate and
reimbursement with friend. These numbers here. >> because commissioner me,
because does have tie to the fiscal invoked that is that payment. Every however, this
also could be penalty. We don't the details, but this put up action fund that we for
the government to know what it Thank you. >> thank you. Madam Chair. I
just a question about fall, some of the triad here. And if you can explain a little also
provide more narrative what's happening here. guess, to 2020 to up to the we're at 46% for
2026. for timeliness on the expedited snap applications. May you explain kind of what
what was happening in between 2022? 25 there. >> But a good question
commission. I joke so as you can see time, you know, it's very close to when we there in
the public health emergency and the COVID due to this time, many it's not This
program is what we used so many programs want subject a tool that, you know, time in
So we were leaving and that that time resources to do other work. So at that time,
there has been a lot of levers when it comes to know those stockings. And that's why you
can see this number that's one has been another aspect that time 6 feet is a full of will
float because we have too many people who come hold services and then that's when we change
it to know from, you know, it this from hybrid world. So there's been a lot you know,
change patients. >> Yeah, I am just trying to understand that some of the
rationale because also like there were changes in policy at all from the state at that
time. So over there changes in policy from the stand during the COVID oen. have been some
Weaver is when it comes like an approximate use good to know COVID times and they have
been a lot of changes when it comes to hold the ball up. I. >> So we had another measure
which was and a committee which was put on hold. No, that's not a bubble anymore.
So they've been a lot of changes a public health emergency ended that many of
those ones that just All right. Thank you. >> I think I want to follow up
on on that question around the expedited snap. That's about those numbers really So what
getting in the way of we almost getting in the way of that is to is to request.
>> individuals who show proof of something or I mean, what is it? That numbers so low.
>> Good question. Chair. All soul. >> commission is to know, as
you imagine, most of occasion, they can you know, men benefit. This is a mistake in
a bathroom that people can apply the benefits all they could be met. so big Aian of
the defense in a life cycle. say you know, this platform drove off as a as it has very
>> maybe, you know, center. But facts and it takes them into to This of the commission
that is the time line gets very close only 5 visits to so as a. Indicated fail. know,
you know, the press is we do have open Senate. They did see like the process. Holt is
conducive cations. And so now we do have a dedicated team that is going to suffocation
is that's what that's why you have seen some significant movement in 2026 and we hope
this is good to continue. But this is another challenge that we all year because of the
number of the petition received the week, humid at half and stuffing that come
much with this number. So it may take few days and to assure the commission
discontinued. Okay. So you currently have a process in place to point for me.
>> Great KC right now because we're seeing and 26. So the data will be coming later Yes,
so we have seen improvements so far. But, you know, this is you that it's always 2 months
behind until we get results that we continue to see that as that snow since we have
created this. You did okay OK? Thank you, Commissioner McMurtry. Thank you, Madam
Chair and This may be a question for the county manager. We know that.
>> This past legislative session that we got funding from the government
modernization. >> What impact will? What we see potentially with with
things like the application process will snap. Through the tech modernization that could
help improved numbers. And also what exactly is the process and the timeline for
when we will eventually start seeing those dollars and up >> improvements to tech.
Throughout the county. >> You know, thank Chair commissioners were tree. I
think that they are just in the very early stages of operational icing. A plan we
can certainly follow as I mentioned at a different board meeting. There's a few work
groups that are really key. There's kind o a statewide advisory group. I know AMC has
a group which Commissioner Miller and chain that actually are going participate in. So
since that money was just recently passed. I do not believe that we should put a
lot of eggs in that immediate basket as a way. I mean, yes, we are very grateful for those
funds. But as I think I've mentioned you individually to some of your even publicly, I
do think this is a moment where Ramsey County should explore some conversations
with head and then with others to talk about how we can maybe patch into other enhancements
that other people invested in. We have not technology wise invested in sort of anything
beyond kind of what the state has really given as accurate statement. Dolly generally and
so Iknow we invested in some case work and and some things like that. But we have not
really modernized it in the sense of where we could sort of invest. We've been sort of
waiting on the state like the rest of the state really. And it probably is time that we
just because of how big we are the for the people we serve. We need to start some of that
as well. But I do think, you know, slow that you're talking about and we can dig into
more. I was trying to find, you know, obviously drected Ali to present the same
measure. I think this measure was in 20 or was this isn't a new measure for you. Is it OK?
So maybe we can go back. And I remember we had a workshop as well where he talked quite a
bit about expedited staff, too. So. >> I appreciate that. Maybe
we've moved on to being better and we've kind of close the book this.
>> This particular chapter where, you know, I think both the department, the supports
that we're kind of given county wide. Also, maybe some of the the support you need
from the rest of the county wasn't fully locked in here. And we now have kind of got a
path forward and we're looking ahead. But I definitely understand that you might want
to know the context because we don't want to repeat. Ask you, though, right? But you can
recall like I think about 24 25 is when I'm commissioner. Take is like.
>> I think I need like a phone line just handle the >> things the dedicated just
to handle some of these questions. Right? So we've you've seen some of that
lesson. That doesn't mean we're perfect. There's obviously days where, you
know, somebody hits gap that we have certainly seen. And I think the show's
optimistically, the trajectory of where Ali's department is going and those have come with
some new investments. But also I think some of it is just about one Ramsey County
mindset where we're like, oh, this is not just alleys and his department's challenge. It
is our county white challenge. And we use we did embrace that with great. They are, I guess
in the last year and a half. that help. I mean, we we should probably just double
check to make sure some of the things that we're hooking us up. Don't show back up again,
Ali. But I think you've you've done a good job, sort getting us over a significant hump
here. Sell. >> I think percent that I think that's helpful. And and
I I wanted just name. That's a good, you know, more contacts around. You know, we the
passage of the of money, but it's not going to happen immediately goes to a more
time that plan has to be developed before we start seeing the attack, the new
tech of being rolled out. other piece I want to touch on real quick because I know that
we approve the additional FT a couple weeks ago. The other component that we've heard
that we heard your presentation comments about is idea of doing more cross
training will that also be a part of the plan here as we think about getting up to that
95% to ensure that we have more employees were able to do this type of work and the when
we see potential backlogs. of what to it. That's that's that's applied. One thing that
you know, I've come into. But question here, what kind of magic talked about and 2 of
you, question? >> There some initiative that's going go now that we
believe that it's going to hold a bullet hole that the commission has come through
our system. Technology on the investment already debate that does connect system is to
this. system. It will look delivered would What I mean by that. You know, we look to
state system that system to, you know, the system. There are couple initiatives that's
going going now. One of them is in now and submit benefit to, you know, Matt says
benefit is the that people over the system. Programs. That is fun group 2great that
system that connects us. It would be in a minute. A lot of 54 and even for Michigan
public quickly. And that's a system which could some is that when that's going to if
you next at this point going on another, you know, fund that terms of a system of the
position is called a notes net for So this is skipped a based system that they're working on
to to eliminate. Some state have said this I heard that that is demos that happening
right now. So we may see this cricket, but I don't have time left. So that is the work
happening behind seas. And this is you know something on that. going to do this with
this is a greater, you know, we do know the issues that each county is going and
hopefully this to know motives ishan systems. We change that we didn't today for question
about most of the starting with numbers position is help us do a desolate, all we
believe only addition if these were result for her problems, when you have visit, you know,
whatever process and make adjustments and system with fences, he the hope that it's
going to show goodwill of people. >> then, yeah, I think you're
just one with Ali got the type that realized what you said. gave me the window to say some
got into you know, I appreciate the modernization, but let's be honest with the
state. If anybody's listening right? I mean, this system 87 counties trying to do
something that we maybe could rethink. And so while I was kind of into like our own
numbers, this is the moment to kind of get above that. A voter advocacy, right. And I
do think one of the things we were able to at least convince the legislature on was to set
up this work group about roles and responsibilities of our human service system.
>> This is a conversation that should be had. There was a day when everybody had to go to
their county building and fill out paperwork and do things. Now it's a different system
and forgo invest money and modernization. Great. We should. But we should also
look at does this need to be done at a county level and and who should be doing this work
as a way as we try to save ourselves in the midst of all these things coming at us. I'm
not saying this is the but we need to look at something. You know. I mean, I think we've
seen some some things of, you know, this at the end of the day, like people said, OK, you
guys going fight for CPA are going to go fight for this are going to go fight for that.
I'm just saying just what it is the same bill for us. How our it's our property.
Taxpayers going to pay 47% of whatever that is. So yeah, let's have a conversation
about 5 or 6 things and just start. Taking some of this way. So I do think this is an
interesting conversation because we don't need 87 ways of 87 counties are having
conversations of how this is hard. And so thank you for that question because I think
it allows me to at publicly again say we as Ramsey County, we want to have this
conversation So Iwill agree. You know, last conversation that few those tables, not
system in technology. >> And, you know, it was money that was allocated that went
directly to DA says that did not come into the county's dedicated more dollars. The
conversation is that it would take at least 2, 3, 4, before we are up and ready to even
use that technology. He's I would like really agree with the county manager is that we
have to save myself. Maybe saw him conversation internally on meeting with our partners from
Hennepin who more work differently about how we can do our work more efficiently
and effectively and quickly to serve people because wife were lying on the state. This is
going to be it's going to be allowed is going to be a bit. It's just that's just way it
is. You right now we know our system and technology. some time to talk to each in burden
that is putting on staff to have to close out to come back to look at a green green
screen. We can harness that quick enough to stay to deal system because I'm young
people coming out of college and eyewitnesses. What is this technology that we're using?
So I'm hoping that, you know, we have improved some from those days, but it's going to
be a while before it ready to move out. See county, why. voted. Yes. Thank you, Madam
Chair. have occasion because commission report you bring a really good question.
>> when we say the county's got money, we hardly got money. But we at the state got
money that they didn't hardly. Used yet or wherever it is for a statewide system, which I
think we al agree should happen. But we don't know when that's going to happen in.
>> So then they said, OK, you want money. So we'll give the county's money, which they
gave us like. And to do. I mean, it's more the it's it's not even enough to do one
county gave it to all the counties. Ws it and wasn't by grant thinner, how we how was
that even going to be distributed? I don't even remember this small amount was
like 16 million dollars for the whole state for counties to do. You know what, what we
need to do and we should be doing that we should be doing it together because we we
shouldn't 87 systems. yeah, I'm so glad we started to work group and that were part of
that. And it's just frustrating to know that this work just needs to get done.
And whatever the state you know, giving u a little band-aid here and there. And
we have 15 million million for whole state, which we manage just for which is not even
enough for one county. anyway, it's a great it's a great issue that we do need to keep
working on. But I agree we should just do our thing with with other counties, Hennepin
and get a system that we can make work for our people. And it's hard to attract new
people. Nobody wants to work in the states in the system that's there. Now. It's too
old and antiquated in computers. You know, it's not what people want put their
time ad energy. So thank you, Madam Chair. that we had this conversation. But good and
it's very frustrating. But I like these numbers. You know, we've been very of the issues
we've gone from. 23% in 2025. >> 2 95% in 2028. So we have some work to do to get there.
continue. Thank you. >> So my all marriage of loops of holes and stability. The
percentage the percentage a just system number, just a gentle system from this. You
should the support. minute hosing images. When residents come to us for emergency
assistance, they often face in one of the most moments of that lies. They may be behind
rent. Facing eviction, experiencing up to crisis. And I'm sure where they will sleep
for the for month. If it is that mister, his image this and emergency generous system
to help residents avoid using that housing and prevent more close to the crisis. and he GA
adjusted from the program is available in Florida by to fulfill Gentoo including
housing and utility assistance. The percentage of supporting housing has faded
over time. Reaching 69 for Senate in 2025. In year we distribute it more than
4 million through emergency system and alleges is as system programs. That a
moment, 2.7 million housing. And that just says being approximately 1850 families
and individuals may Has holes and closed to continue to rise Goodman before of this
political system, demand is high. This measure shows developed. Whole Department
responding to housing needs more important to me. us how many residents able to stay in
their homes or find a stable home with help from these programs? Goals are 67% by
2028. 64% by 2030. These goals to cope and eyes that and you G need to remain a viable for
many tied to The Jen says winds to maintaining a strong focus on housing to beat.
Financial system. A ready resolve is the food husing crisis. Residents may also
need housing. Stability, said this is a benefit. can stop the Welcome shun hope. The
issue health services, but many child care community-based supports. But
will come across departments and with community partners. We cannot do this multiple
needs at the same time and give presidents the greater chance of remaining safely
host. You can head. We continue using data to better target resources identified to
spend it is Partnership move. It could have effects us. for sissies. So bonuses received
assistance they need as quickly possible. This interstates hope hold could
deliver services and that motion can improve residents to do. See the need for more
costly interventions. >> citing Commissioner >> Thank you. Prepare. Quick
question. I know that the VA and each year see funded programs powers those dollars.
Figure it out. Is it an allocation is of population? Is the top of residents who
are on our program or is that a formula that is a stupid through the counties? And then
my next question then goes into 2. We add dollars too. Like Levy dollars or other
program dollars to that support as Very good question. You should
>> So in huge 82 submittal comes point broker we just the unknown location that, you
know, things 100 received from the state. And this is close a solution, isn't a program, a
DIA. And that is that will position is an FAA Benny of agreement between the 2
departments to share those indications. If it's see that percentage of that foam sun
will with solutions get 70%. All. And this is also tight tool tat case moot Stephens
County case. need to know limits system broken with station. UVA is comes from
that have to be from the state look Asian and us to determine us about how much come to see
video. Okay. Whether we add additional, we don't any TV. >> As process, I don't recall
anything that we must work with. Other departments. >> To tennis, from this form
of te example working with housing stability, we were able to some program funds
last year EJ program this year as we speak, that is a process that was fitting. Some fund is
for more what solution is to support program. So that's how we do to come to Portage.
Thank you. >> Okay. Commissioners thank Madam Chair. I just have a
question about this, too, because are we? Is this helpful information for us in
terms getting tough? And so because they have strict guidelines are ready to end a
criteria, right? So 100 people can apply but may not be eligible and then up Mr
Percent. Right? that's I'm asking like, is this how how how has the state up and
helpful to your department? >> But a quick question, commissioner, Sol that high
program from county or the con is don't have any flexibility to change the policies and
vote for. We do. However, the 10 men above the 50 Quincy, the defense about how you want
use up indication. We able to divine and to put the pause lifted. Weighs G
>> your because the way that, you know, the system is set up. Anyone that apply
football. But system they have to use for a combined that the commission for it is a
question on the combine of the commission that I ask do you have to manage is and people
come in to us when they need food, when the new health could with the need of the
services. Yes, this emergency. >> But emergency but program policy. It's someone's using
that hole. Someone who's facing Cano utility shut off. That is what divine so most
people who check yes for may not be needed up to eat program that we do. So this
megill focuses on how much we used for housing emergency basis to know how many people
applied. If that mixes. >> And what I what I'm getting at, who is? They have to meet
specific criteria ready sell. >> Should and shouldn't the data that we're looking for is
>> of the eligible applicants? How many are reprocessing? So proving.
>> idea that we have folks in with the housing stability to, to hold that people maintain
that housing is one image bid to portion for you and program. There are many of
people can apply for images, assistance adjusted now has message S a.
>> And up to the city's a damaged boat. this only folks who form this part all housing
is to put it to because this pie, too times. The county 52 fight over to them. If people
have the stability that house. >> Okay. Commissioner following up, my question was
very similar to that, wich is host trying to figure out what this is actually measuring. Is
it? >> The population of folks who are coming in the needs that
they have. And then this is just reflecting that since the requirements are pretty
prescribed. Or I guess I'm right there with Commissioner John. I'm not really sure
except for measuring maybe how we're educating on which box to fill so that the number of
people who felt who protect that box or I guess I don't really quite understand how
this is helpful. I'm just curious if I mean, maybe I'm just not. I think I'm in the
same forward. If this is just saying of the people who apply. These are people who
met those requirements and those are prescribed. What information. And we gather
from that that helps us improve our operational excellence.
>> 1, one we wanted communicate, hit his home and people this state funded
programs tat time to come missus, supporting succumb to this event to meet to maintain
that housing. So this is tied to the housing instability. This is tied preventing
homelessness. This is tied people as long a tenant would be so that what we attempt to
measure is how people remaining in that if they don't get this fund is then,
know, then it tool these table and it may using that housing stupid.
>> I won't belabor the questions. I'm still vote where I was when we started.
But will find a later. Yeah, >> So will the divide look a bit above is to be more
careful. Newcomb ahead. To folks. It's been fixing and about two-thirds formation.
While improving all for performance measures and strengthening the distance, 6
all part artists include investing in a blue Nissan dealership. More than dozen to
operations within what you can control fun in county and community partnerships,
building the continuous improvement mindset. >> We most the whole system
cold services so we withstand upcoming for that. All policy and fiscal changes in Ottawa.
>> Some of these changes developing. But we know there was increased workload,
complexity and he's going vote. I wanted to recognize or if it's stuff. They continue
serve from succumbing to dissidents wide managing complex needs. demanding will
goats and continuous policy changes. The brokers collect it in. This measure is direct
result. hope that the Russian isn't resilience and commitment to public service.
We'll continue to do continue using measures. Tough guy physician is students and
accountability and improve the expedience of Ramsey County residents. Thank you.
>> Commissioner I think I just have a question more or less for maybe you county manager.
If there's some confusion around this performance measure, can we maybe change
the performance by that measure and have one that's that shows us maybe what we're
looking for. You know, if this performance measures not very useful, let's change it.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Miller. We can have those conversations. Let's talk
about maybe what they're trying to achieve maybe it's description problem or maybe
it actually is. It's more. Kind telling a story that we're not articulating well.
So let's talk about that with our policy team and we'll figure that out. So thank you.
Appreciate that. And and to be clear, Ali has a financial assistance. annual report.
There's a lot of other measures on. So 3 measures are out for all the departments is
not indicative. All the measures that they have. We generally tried to carry 3
that told kind of a unique story in particular, especially around strategic
priorities. But if you go on open data portal, click on either department or the
strategic priorities, there's a multitude of stories and some departments have annual
reports that makes sense. thank you. All right. So I just want to thank you.
Director the alley managed it and wanting feel each of presentation.
>> I have one question really only pertains I'm not even going to say 10. It is. We
tracking. >> How many folks? Wi? Fall off rolls into next We
planning to track that in any way. >> commission do and child
yeah, okay. So this is a state and in addition to to this to continue said this in Menifee
that his team waiting for them to see to provide us many people would be up We have
estimate. >> About home when ad but in system would be inducted. But
then a different program said that is that a suspect in and closest not, you know, vote.
So we do have this to me. The ball home people would be impacted by snow program. The
7 POWs in. >> People that would be enough to the post changes but Holmen
to people when the system. We don't have that. Did it. Yeah. I think it's important -
that we no. Because that's how we're going to tell the impact. so, and we can work
more on that. But I think it's important in this environment that we have a handle on. I
know that some states. And counties as Many starter reporting back. looking at
anything from 20 to 50% reductions reduction. So I mean that that's devastating
in Manatee County. >> So, commissioner, some states that have start
implementing a child at the time the and they have voted to seeing, you know, the
changes. So Minnesota, for example, a medical assistant change will not have been on 2
June 2027. So those are the times that we start to see that and it's significant to.
But but I want >> You know, I just don't want I'm not looking for a
simplistic. And so I don't know what to say uses. That's number one. So shouldn't be.
If we had 100 last year and this year, we of we have 50. So to say we lost 50 folks is
I want to go beyond that. I want to know what are the areas. We're losing them in.
Because we could be against also was and other areas where investing. what's the story?
What you need to be able see where we are. >> Building up in the to that
point. If 50, if we went from 100 to 50, I would want to know is that because we were
successful then in other areas. So there they're actual economic opportunity said
lifted. And that was and they've succeeded in that Or was it that we have cut them
off from benefits because of new eligibility requirements or and this is what I'm very
concerned about or different to shuttle administrative burdens or ambiguity or other
barriers. >> Where people are just able to keep up with the type of
try The is Alana and I want learn that. Yeah, and I want to in in in to be able to know
the impacts where where else we should be advising or other community partners who are.
That's because those needs will still be there. And what does that mean for for a
greater system? >> yeah, I just want put another pin into like the
question that Commissioner Jeff Dunn saying and I had this because I'm just a little
bit perplexed about it, too, because I know that we have restrictions around
emergencies, we one of our goals around holistic support to write a residence, entered
holistic support, meaning that like people are identified to us that they have an
emergency. But even though it doesn't fall under the county programs, are we actively
working with partners to get them to that resource? Right. that's that's a better measure
for a sound like that, we control that. I think that it would be more helpful for i
missing in and gets back to my earlier question of did we did we answer their question. Are
we get them the help they needed his sometimes the answering the question is 95%.
We said yes. Here is your local provider. >> In the follow-up is and
where they actually able to get the help they needed. All right. So just want to thank
you. Very good questions. You hopefully we can get to a place where we can get Oz is
that the commissioners are asking. >> All right. So that you can
nice story. See where where we are and where we're going. And I just want to end by the
connector prformance measures and a strategic outlook in just highlight. You know,
summarize that last point, if you talked about which is improving, what think counties
department's control. And influencing what is in state in federal control. And so we
end with that that there's more work to do apartments to be made in. I think together
we make a Thank you for your work and your leadership. Thank Thank Gift. We're going
to take a 2 minute break and then we'll come back after the break to work. workforce
solutions.
? ? ?
>> 10 >> tiny Dolly, you know, wear pink. And the FA says sure
it's next week or Want to gavel is back Want to welcome direct Davis from Workforce
Solutions >> and so if you don't mind introducing yourself and you
can thank you. >> Good afternoon. Chair commissioners, County mnager
and members of the public. My name is Patrice Davis. Director of Workforce
Solutions. Thank you for the opportunity to share the workforce solutions
performance measures aligned to the 26 27 Budget. Today's presentation will highlight
the Workforce Solutions Department measures that will improve outcomes for residents
and the efforts we will put in place to achieve them in partnership with departments
across the county and in communities. Before we begin, I would like to take the
opportunity to thank the individuals that have contributed to the development
of the measures being presented today. County manager back or deputy County
Manager Francois Director of Administration, friend. And the community services and
supports admin team and multiple workforce solutions, staff and partners, including
our Workforce Solutions. Deputy Director Joseph at IMG Workforce Solutions, Planning
manager Michelle ballots and our workforce solutions evaluator. Kelly, I move
American Indian administrator Nicole be in and each of you. The county's board of
commissioners for continued support investment in workforce services. Workforce
Solutions in partnership with the Workforce. Innovation Board of Ramsey County
provides pograms and services to connect residents to jobs and strengthen the eonomic
vitality of residents and businesses, our departments. There's 2 distinct groups, job
seekers and employers. He programs and services offered to residents include the
Minnesota Family Investment set Employment Services, Workforce, Innovation and
Opportunity Act programs, Minnesota, dislocated worker program, career force and
community career Labs services are provided in person and virtually and are designed to
assist with job placement. Credential, attainment and support services to reduce
barriers to employment and connect residents with in demand high wage employment
opportunities. Businesses and employers also gain support connecting to our lure local
workforce to Ramsey County means business. The county's business focus website as well
as the inclusive workplace cohort. Midway job fair youth job fair and other events
provided annually as we continue to prioritize the services that we are currently
providing. We are also realistic about the impacts of HR one as well as shrinking
state grant funds. But we remain optimistic that the performance measures you will
hear about today will demonstrate how as a department we remain invested
and committed to improving the conditions for all residents. Workforce solutions,
performance measures were developed. Collaboratively to tell a story of how our
department is advancing board investments, reducing fiscal pressures and improving
outcomes for residents to ensure that as a department, we demonstrate the impact of
our work on residents work on residents. We have made considerable data improvements
to ensure that we are consistently tracking and reporting employment outcomes
across workforce programs by tracking employment. We will be able to demonstrate whether
residents are experiencing greater economic sufficiency. We believe the for measures
presented today were also enhance accountability and transparency in overall
program performance and county investments. Workforce solutions performance at a
combined with Comprehensive program evaluation and surveys to gather participant fedback
on sure that we are providing quality services and positive resident experiences.
Additionally, these measures will create transparency. What is working and where
improvements can be made. The 4 measures listed on this slide aigned with county
strategic priorities alongside goals outlined in state, regional and local workforce
development plans. The first measure percentage participants exited to
employment alliance with the county's racial and health equity and shared community
power. Strategic priority and demonstrates whether the county is helping residents
that transition off of assistance into employment. Employment is among the most
important is is among one of the most important indicators of success for employment and
training programs such as M Fit and is essential to reducing economic disparities
annually. More than 60% of participants in Ramsey County are from black, indigenous and
people of color. Communities. And on average, only 40% of bipoc participants. Transition
from dams that program into employment with number again. 60% the participants in Ramsey
County are from Bipoc communities and 40% transition from end to that program into
employment. As shown in the demographics on this slide, African-American and American
Indian employment tends to be lower compared to other racial ethnic groups. And when
further broken down compared to Al and Tipper sippy ends these outcomes because become
more disparate, which is why employment amongst these 2 groups remains a priority.
Focus for workforce solutions. this one of the county's largest programs impacting
residents. Currently, we have approximately 3,000 families actively working with
employment counselors on both our internal into teams, along with a vendor partners and the
county's public health department. In 2027. We will closely track comes at the
employment for all participants as well as for African-American and American
Indian residents to reduce racial employment gaps and to support residents in
transitioning off of them to it and into self-sufficiency. The goals for this measure
have been set based on average annual performance outcomes over the last 5 years have
been adjusted to ensure that we are realistic that they are realistic and attainable
within the current service delivery model. The second measure percentage of families
engaged in and holes, holistic family, support services aligns with residents entered
holistic support, aligns with the residents entered holistic support, strategic priority
and shows whether families are accessing comprehensive supports designed to address
barriers to employment and family stability. And 5th family. Holistic support
services is a holistic approach to serving families on and fit by integrating
career pathways with well-being and support services. Workforce solutions
alongside a network of community partners provide culturally responsive support
at locations in Saint Paul and suburban Ramsey County, ensuring families have the
tools they need to achieve financial independence and thrive. In 2025. We had the
opportunity to facilitate a board workshop alongside public health to feature the
positive impacts the services and additional career pathways have an increasing employment
and financial stability for him families facing significant barriers. Since
that workshop, additional investments to American RESCUE Plan Act funds have ended.
However, both workforce solutions and public health continue to work together to
provide these services using 10 of consolidated grant funds. The grant dollars
continue to provide wages and cover support services such as tuition costs, professional
clothing and transportation to families participating in holistic family supports
programming. In addition to individual employment outcomes for families on and fit
tracking family, holistic support services will help us assess him better understand
the extent to which these services positively impact and families as they work towards
transitioning from him, fit into employment and ultimately achieving financial stability.
services are designed to empower participants to take charge of their personal
development, economic stability, and build a more connected community. Family,
holistic support services, support American Indian, African-American and families
with documented disabilities who are receiving and fit enough. It's. To provide the
specialized services in 2026. Funds were awarded through a competitive RFP process to
hired the network for the development of children of African descent and cad and
the American Indian Family Center. By partnering with community-based organizations.
The county is intentionally responding to the cultural needs residents and ensuring
that employment services are rooted in traditional values and needs to to meet the
unique needs of these populations. The goals for this measure have been set
based on the average annual performance outcomes over the last 5 years and have been
adjusted to ensure that they are realistic and attainable within the current service
delivery model and grant allocations coming directly from the state. Synergy you
highlighted some of the specific groups in our intentions to meet their
needs. Some wondering if you could be more specific on. >> The what types of
significant barriers are being addressed through a more holistic approach to helping
families yet. >> The partnerships that we are commissioner different
saying that the partnerships that we've established with CAD and American Indian Family
Center as well as hired are providing direct services to those unique groups. They are
addressing the specific needs by providing mental health services, transportation
supports child care assistance other culturally responsive needs of each of those
communities. For example, mid CAD has apparent power literacy program and is
integrating more of the personal development aspects needed for folks to be
successful in employment and in life alongside American Indian Family Cnter doing
specific services that identify work skills beyond kind of the traditional
aspects that we see showing up through our partnership with deed and looking at some of
the ways that social emotional learning and community connectedness can help to
support individuals in both entering into jobs and retaining employment as well
when they feel kind connected and supported in their work and in community. Thank you
for that. one of the reasons why I wanted to to to get into some of those specifics,
specifics is because I am. >> quite concerned about the impacts that we've been
talking about. HR one on our and on the caregivers throughout our community, the
folks who take care of of a family and can informally. It's not part of their
necessarily paid work. But as those needs and community grow, it will become another
barrier to to to folks who are in those roles to to participate in a more
formalized work network. So I appreciate that. Their programs like that that may be
helping families address some of those barriers to to work as well.
>> Can you share for us what with me? >> The numbers in red. chair
the numbers and identify the goals that we've set. So for 2028 2030, when we're looking
at the percent of families engaged in an FIP whole family support services that just
highlights the goals that we hope to achieve in 28 2030 over the next few years. And
then the racial ethnicity or disaggregated data percentages highlighted in red are the
goals that we hope to achieve in serving those specific populations who are receiving
holistic support services and making sure that reaching those with the greatest cases
like increase. Yes, the morning to tunnel. Yes, support.
>> Commissioner McGuire, did you? Madam Chair? So, yeah, just some clarity. So that on
page before that the percent participants employed this is an increase or and this is
just like when we say 2% and 4%. is that the total people that we want employed or is
that the is an increase? mean, really is it that? We're not? We're not employing very many
people. might. And I read these numbers correctly. >> I mean, this is a is it and
thinking that that's the goal of this program is to get people up and out and
employment is issue. As you know, so that this is mean, I know we want we want achieve
goal goals and we'll keep improving on these. But it's a yeah, they're pretty is a
pretty standard for this for that to be this. This low. And pretty surprised actually.
Commissioner of wire. >> Just to clarify this measure, there a slight type O
so percent of Minnesota family investment program participants exited t
employment. So there is a higher percentage of individuals on and who are
employed while receiving and that services either working part-time or full-time. This
measure is really designed to track those who have exited set pools in com no longer
allows them to be eligible that. The U.S. demonstrating how many individuals are
actually entering into sustainable employment to achieve self-sufficiency.
>> That is ultimately kind of our north star of employment serve and employment services
and making sure that folks are not dependent uon and benefits long term but are
entering into economic stability. So the numbers here are flat. They're not looking.
We're not looking at a significant increase due to some of the factors that will
talk about in a moment related to funding as well as some of the policy changes, but rather
for us to be able to maintain and to continue to provide that individual lies and kind
of holistic approach to helping folks transition off of benefits different. Yeah, I
appreciate that. That that clarification and what this is looking at because
>> people on him are are working and maybe we had higher minimum wage for some
of these people. You know, they could exit off some of these programs, but they they
can't afford their child care, their housing and everything and live on a small You know,
it's just too much so to exit off and with requires a lot of things to happen, but it's
really this systemic. equities we have and how much people make and how much cost to it.
To have to, you know, support a family. so it's yeah, a number of these people are
working and fund them fit and that's just to pay. I the jobs able to support them.
Commissioner Miller. I see run this page to to we'd already to the next side because I
don't want it I moved back to you move So I think we get you immunity you passionate. Make
so. >> A couple questions on this live right here. Do we know
when we talked like the American families are the African American families. And
you can see how that number is goes up and down a little. Do we know are these families
that have been on the program for multi years and are now just utilizing the whole
family support and then also. >> Does this work tie-in to the work that we're doing with
our family coaching programs that that we are supporting as well because I know like the
American Indian family centers on a partner with the economic mobility have that is
supporting the family coaching and curious if that overlaps or ties in somehow.
>> Thanks for that question. Commissioner Miller, this is just tracking specifically
those participants who are actively engaged in the Family support services programming.
There is intersection with some of the other programs that you've named. But we
haven't been tracking that explicitly within this performance measure. And I
absolutely can provide additional data and follow up on kind of the number of
individuals who >> are engaged in this program as well as others who might be
receiving some 5th in accessing additional pograms to have And then one thing I
do want to just name and just say are. >> I know that for the Native
American community, I can said partner with American Indian Family Center, but
>> have there been other agencies interested in holding that contractor, that similar
contract and why we only partner with one? I understand that they've held that
contract for many years. just curious is what does that look like going forward?
>> Yeah, thank you for that question. Commissioner >> the selection of the
partners for this specific service, element is selected through and go through an open
process and competitive bid and then they are awarded after kind of a comprehensive
evaluation process. It is open to any organization that is interested in applying and
going through that. And each year we have selected based on variety of different criteria.
And so it's kind of who emerges with kind of the opportunity to serve based on
what that application asking of partners to deliver. It is possible that in the future
could be awarded to other organizations. We've seen that happen with other partnerships
as well. So it's not a matter of awarding because they've been a longstanding partner.
It's the competitive process. It's election. >> Perfect. And I think that
question is I have killer. I county as response to want question. Yeah, thank Madam
Chair. And I just want to acknowledge I know we talked about some of the
transformative investments we've made with our American Rescue Plan Act that we sort
of carried over into our kind of operation allies into are 2027 budget because we see
them expiring here at of 2026. one of them is the family coach model. And we as part of
biennial budget, we did put over half a million dollars into family coach. I
understand that there's reduced funding. You know, happening in the end program.
But I'd just to encourage the department to work closely since this is a mandated
program. We recognize the value whole family supports and see that, you know, it is
the wraparound services that can help a family stay employed. And I do think this
is one of those cases and those of you should have a workshop actually, because
it's been a long time and look at some of the sport index and some of that. But I also think
this is one of those programs that hasn't really changed since like, you know, when we
kind of started sort of a income support programs, you know, cash assistance and this
is I have a lot of feelings about this program, but it's kind of do does what the
system kind of does in terms holding people back. And it's really things like family
coach, that kind of re engineer the system to really think about what families need
because they need less government and more community. And that's what the family
coach model really is designed to do. I will say that one of the toughest things about this
program, you know, in terms I think what you are thank Commissioner Miller's. These
are folks that are still on the program. It's a 5. people can be on it for 5 years. They
can come on and off. I the real difficult thing is, you know, once you start getting
progress and making more money, you know, that benefits Cliff is very real. And so
there've been lots of conversations about hi how that can be rate. We
engineered. I mean, one of those things is to ensure you have that. Yeah, when you
actually finally get threshold where you're you're stably employed, you finally have
your kids in child care. The government sort comes out from under you. And this is where
maybe community could be beneficial, right? And so we see in that union hub. Thank
Union hub. The value of family coaching families for life is our African-American family
coats. I just encourage chase that you continue to work with that investment because while
you're finding is going down, we did put significant money and family coach and that you
don't directly aligned with this family program. If that makes Let's keep that calm.
But I'm glad you brought it up. gve me a moment to call out that 227 investment
because that is pretty significant that that was another thing. We operation
allies, really? we only operation a few things that would you know in 27. It was
appropriate response. And then this was really the other really big ones. I wanted
highlight that for the board. country. Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to go quickly to
the >> slot on. That's 23. I know we talked a lot about climb
and the the the really low numbers for American Indian African American, but also
want highlight significant drop 2024 2025. for the Hispanic community is is there
any insights as to why we saw such a draw from a 25% to 7? >> Commissioner McMurtry.
That's one that I would probably have to look into to kind of demonstrate their
figure out kind of why those percentages have dropped pretty significantly from 24
to 25. I don't have that data with me today, but we definitely could follow up
with that. Thank you. all. Okay. Thank you. Madam Chair. >> We just go back to the
percentage of Minnesota Family Investment program. Participants employed. And I
just had question about, like, you know, just across the board, the percentage is
really low. And ae we like new employment that they have from participating in the
program. >> Commissioner we do track multiple kind of factors of
employment entering into part-time or full-time employment, whether that's new
or they've been in for a kind of the retention of ld be - employment for those on and
5th. You know, I think the data that's demonstrated here, it's intentional to kind of
call this out because it is relatively low. And it's an area that we want to see
improvements on. And so incrementally. >> We're committed to
improving the number of people to exit into employment off 5th we're kind of moving in a
direction by tracking this to demonstrate the direct connections to employment that
those participants are having. Historically, you know, we've also had an opportunity to
report out on kind of some of the other programs. And so we've we've kind of separated
and fit from dislocated workers or some of our W Iowa data to to truly highlight
where there's opportunities for growth to support residents to entering into
employment. So the percentages here are our low and some that we aspire to improve over
time. >> so this is participants who >> are not working.
>> It's more. fit participants who have exited into employment, meaning there are
no longer eigible fit because their income has exceeded the eligibility criteria. So there
are separate measures for those who are fit and receiving those cash benefits
and other services while also being employed. So we do have a higher percentage of that
participants who are working. This is specifically those who are transitioning into
economic stability. Okay, great. >> And do you have a number on
this? Because the percentage is just really low and I just don't have a grasp how many
total. >> Yeah, I can provide that us follow up as well. OK, thank
you. >> All right, Commissioner Miller. And then make tree.
>> Why were so on the slide? Do we participants that exited off they utilize training
programs or other support services that we offered versus them utilizing, you
know, career advancements on their own. If they're already working part-time or they were
already in school for says, hey there, starting at 0, they got a job. They went to a
training program, right? Do we have that type of data as well?
>> Commissioner? Yes, we That's quick answer is again, 100% of individuals who are
referred to 5th employment and services are receiving kind of high-tech supports and are
assigned to an employment guidance counselor. That is a county employee who's
providing ongoing support, setting goals with each individual around education
and employment to help them achieve the goals that they're setting for themselves and
their families. And then we also do connect those participants to programs and
services that we are poviding directly through our contract funded partners as well as
those are provided internal to the county and within the broader workforce ecosystem
based on individual For example, you could have a participant who's interested
in, you know, custom customer service training or is looking into go into an office
assistant position. And so we could connect with them with another partner who's
providing that training or employment counselors will be working with them directly to
participate in that program, reduce any barriers that would prevent them from successfully
achieving and completing that program. And then helping with the job search process as
well. So they're getting that high touch kind of wrap around support from of coming into
our program and then transitioning into employment and beyond.
>> It's I just want to follow up and say I think that's an important part or an important
piece that we try to communicate somehow during this budget season or even
just going forward. Is that our participants that are on this program are some of these
programs are employed. They are working hard to, you know, exit the program and use it
how it's intended to be used and it's not abuse like you get a lot of that
misinformation or that misconception that people utilizing these programs are
using them. This is really important data. And I think it's really important that we
somehow find a way to make sure we tell that story. also. >> Commissioner member Thank
you. Madam Chair. How do we define economic stability? I ask that because, you know,
folks who are, you own no longer qualifying for infant me.
>> Hit a threshold where you maybe 15 economics economically stable. But we
know that that may not still be Is there is there situation where we're still getting
folks falling through of the system because they may be numerically Dean, economic,
stable of reaching whatever threshold is set, but still, if I'm able to affords, you
know, living, you know, and with that, the current cost of living in and parts of our
community. So I I just want to get a little bit more understanding on what we mean
by economic stability. And is that something that is set by us as the county is that by
Minnesota statute and are we having issues? But people continue to fall through. not
get the help that they need because they have now. >> Hit some. Arbitrary number.
>> They question Commissioner I'm answering that honestly, economic stability is a
subjective term and it is interpreted differently depending on, you know, the
stakeholder partner and or individual who's receiving services. So I would I would
respond to that by saying that for us economic stability is entering into employment.
That's an in demand high wage industry or sector that allows for a person to maintain
self-sufficiency about maintaining housing employment and other basic needs without
the dependency of economic assistance programs and being able to maintain long-term.
That is harder to achieve. And so I think what you've called out is really the benefits,
cliff that we're really thinking about and constantly working to because it's a
complex problem where we do have individuals who, by way of wages and earnings no
longer are eligible for services, that it doesn't mean that they're economically
stable, right? And so how do we did? I think a county manager back or called out,
you know, how do we connect with our cmmunity organizations to continue to
provide those wrap-around services when folks are no longer available, are eligible
for economic assistance. But there may be other programs and services available to them
to help maintain that self-sufficiency and economic stability beyond the programs
that we provide at the county. >> Just to highlight some of positive impacts that these
programs have been having this slide highlights the testimonials from saff and
participants of the programs that have been integrated into set programming pull a sick
family supports model and participants engaged in the work force, holistic family
support small, receive cash assistance, which is temporary support for eligible pregnant
women and low-income families with minor children. Most recipients participate in job
training, education or other proof. Social service activities to help them gain
skills and move toward long-term stability. Our employment counselors out
offer personalized guidance, ensuring that individuals receiving assistance have the
resources and support they need to achieve their career goals in 2026. Just to
highlight again, we had an open RFP process that issued funds to some of those partner
organizations mentioned earlier and the voice of residents has really
contributed to the positive program improvements and enhance partnerships to ensure
that each program participant receives high-quality services from staff. Additionally, our
holistic family supports is a unique and offering that provides those additional
opportunities for eligible participants that align again to their employment,
individual employment and economic goals. I just want to briefly read one of the impact
statements from are testimonials from one of our participants provided by one
of individual placement support counselors EV is a single mother of 2, 6,
year-old disabled twins while in the IPS program, she has earned her associate's degree
from Century College and will be continuing her education at Saint Kate's this fall.
>> She is working part-time while maintaining school and her children's doctor's
appointments on a weekly basis and I just want to highlight that because those who are
participating in this program, as I mentioned, have unique situations, both with their
children and for themselves. And so being able to respond to some of those day-to-day
needs while also maintaining employment addressing the complex medical needs of their
children as well as themselves is a significant positive impact that these programs and
services are having on families and they're able to achieve that independently.
>> The 3rd measure percent of residents serviced at career labs from low-income Ramsey
counties. Tat codes aligns with 2 of the county's strategic priorities,
intergenerational wealth and economic justice as well as residents entered, holistic,
supports this measure, advances these 2 priorities by demonstrating who is accessing
walk in county workforce services and whether we are reaching residents in
communities with greater economic needs while also supporting equitable access to
community-based and clturally specific workforce services since its opening in March,
the Saint Paul career forced location at Ramsey County Government Center has been one
of the most use locations across the state and career forces are comprehensive
one-stop center were county staff serve job seekers and employers alongside state
staff. This location is open 5 days per week and is where we serve majority of our
customers. In addition to the career Force location, the Workforce Solutions, Career
Services team provides drop-in services at 2 aditional locations, Roseville Library
and Maplewood Mall career Labs are adjacent to county service centers and provide those
walk-in services and employment services to anyone in need. Measuring the percent
of individuals from low income. ZIP codes allows the county to both assess who is
accessing career labs and career force and to ensure that the services provided are
reaching individuals with the greatest need in our community. Visit calls listed
in the slider, those that were trapped in prior years. But do not include all low-income zip
codes in Ramsey County. So it's not a comprehensive list low-income zip codes are
classified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as
having an area median income or household income of 80% or less for the geographic area
or meets the income eligibility standards as determined by the commission
are required for household to receive financial assistance from a federal state,
municipal or utility pro administered. Utility program administered approved by the
department. Adding this measure, along with others will also help with tracking
residents who may be impacted by HR one work rules related to SNAP and Medicaid in
partnership with the Department of Employment and Economic Development Deed as
well as financial assistance services here at the county. We will monitor who is
entering career lab locations to assess any emerging trends that could lead to service
improvements for potential changes for those impacted by HR one work girls. The goals
for this measure have been set based on again on the average annual performance outcome
over the last 5 years and have been adjusted to ensure that they are realistic and
attainable within the current service delivery model that combines both state and county
methods for tracking participation at career force and across the county for a
lab sites. Okay. >> Commissioner, given seen me just say that te hope is to
have you 3.50, to have you to in by 4 o'clock because we have one more presentation to
do so. Commissioner Jeff and I'll keep this quick I do appreciate the of Speckles
that meet crrent grant dollars and your current >> Fulfilling the program. I
guess the question I have is if administration's goal is to move people from the social
safety net programs into a workforce, have you seen that dollars move from if they've
been taken from this part this pot and put into workforce? But have you seen additional
investments in such an activity? Commissioner joven saying now? Thank
>> The 4th and final measure is the number of residents who complete the public pathways
program and gain employment. If this measure aligns with the county's operational
excellence strategic priority and demonstrates whether county investments lead to
county jobs, public pathways has been a longstanding investment coordinated in
partnership with HR to achieve the county's goal to complete talent, attraction and
retention efforts demonstrating our one Ramsey County approach to building
goals for this measure has - been set based on the average annual performance outcomes
over the last 6 years and have been adjusted down slightly to account for the natural
attrition within programs and increase funding that has resulted in an overall
reduction of opportunities offered. Lastly, I'll just briefly mention looking ahead,
workforce solutions will deploy. Upstream strategy is to identify tangible changes
maintain existing services. These strategies include enhanced collaboration across
departments leveraging existing funds to reduce financial pressures,
community, Cabinet, collaboration and engagement, specifically within
communities where we are seeing the most disparate economic outcomes for
residents such as African-American, American Indian and family is that. In
closing the workforce solutions performance measures presented, demonstrate how we
are working to advance one Ramsey County connecting residents to employment,
addressing barriers and providing culturally responsive services. Thank you
again for your time at this time. A welcome, any and questions. All Any questions?
>> All right. I think I quick >> And I going. A pile of leaves. All right. every so I
want to welcome Director Here to speak Veterans Services. Please introduce yourself the
seat. >> Thank you. Good afternoon. Chair Moran commissioners.
County manager, backer and members of the public understand harassed and the
directors of Veterans Services. Tank you for the opportunity to present today.
begin. I want to recognize Deputy County manager France fall. All In a state of
Director David Seth friends, a program evaluated Josephson close. He's probably gone now.
And of course, our Veterans Services team Nrcs esteem for their support feedback and
partnership for preparing to these for presentation. Also want to thank the board county
manager Becker for your continued investment into Veterans Services and thank
the veterans and the families who trust us to serve them. Today. I'll be sharing 3
performance measures that help us answer 3 questions. New residents know about us and
our they accessing our services. Are they receiving the services they need when
they reach us and are w helping them take steps toward access and the benefits they
burned through military service? Throughout the presentation. You're going
hear me use the word residents and I'm referring to veterans. We serve surviving spouses and
eligible dependents. I'll start with a brief overview of Veterans Services in our rule
in Ramsey County. So under Minnesota Law, veteran services is a Ramsey County.
Local researchers are helping eligible residents, access benefits and resources earned
through military service. Our role includes helping residents navigate, understand
and apply for federal state, local benefits such as disability compensation and
pension. Health care enrollment survivor and burial benefits. Property tax
programs like the disabled Veterans Market value exclusion, housing, resources
and other benefits. Veterans also come to us dealing with justice involvement, financial
hardship or other barriers. And we across systems to address those alongside their
benefits needs. But our work goes beyond a single benefit or an application. Veterans
may come to us with needs that crossed multiple systems. Families system to do that.
Thank you. we work across systems to address those alongside their benefits. I
lost my spot. We provide services in several ways through in-person, which is
that Plato and Army Service Center phone virtually through home visits and community
partner, locations. So residents have multiple ways to connect with us. With that
overview, a move to the our 3 performance measures today's presentation. So on the slide
year, 3 performance measures we intentionally selected these 3 measures because
together they reflect the residence journey Veterans Services. They follow a simple
progression our residents finding us are they receiving the services they need? And
are they taking action toward access scene and earned benefit? Each measure connects
to a Ramsey County strategic priority. Together, they help us understand whether county
investments and staffing outreach training technology and service delivery are
leading to better access service, quality and outcomes. For those we serve. They also
hold us accountable by showing what is working and where we still have opportunities to
grow and improve. The first step in that journey is access our first performance measure
focuses on equitable access by looking at percentage of residents who connected with
our office for the first time. We previously tracked, the total number of residents are
and that told us about her work But it didn't tell us whether we're continuing to
reach veterans and families. have not used our services. In 2025. 27% of the residents we
were new to our office lightly below the 2020 to 24 average of 29%. Our goal is to return
to 29% by 2028. increase that to 31% by 2030. But this measure isn't simply about
getting more people through our doors. helps us understand again, he's finding us how
they're finding us and what happens after that first connection. New residents
learned about her office through other veterans and families. Word of mouth is
probably are primary referral source. We learn they learn about us through other county
departments, community in veteran organizations and outreach activities. These
multiple pathways matter because when veterans don't because veterans don't all
enter the system in the same way. Awareness also matters because having benefits
available doesn't mean veterans know that they're eligible. Understand how to
navigate a complex system or know where to for trustworthy assistance. Some of the most
heartbreaking conversations we have. I with veterans are surviving spouses who paid an
organization sometimes thousands of dollars for claims assistance that's
available through our office at no cost. That is how this measure connects to racial
health equity and shared community power for U.S. equity isn't simply making the
service available. It means understanding whether veterans across our community can
actually find it and access it. Available. Demographic data has limitations,
particularly for veteran populations with smaller numbers. We use it as one
tool, not as proof that we've achieved equitable access. It's to help ask who we are
reaching, who we still may be missing and where outreach or community writ relationships
need to be strengthened. And good example of our recent work veterans of the Secret
War in Laos. Also known as special drill unit veterans. Recent Minnesota legislation
Laish an established access to state veterans benefits for eligible SU veterans through
targeted outreach. Community partnerships, a claims clinic. We've helped Ramsey County
veterans and to understand their new eligibility and navigate the process to access
those benefits. We're also learning first connection doesn't always result in a
benefit application. And that doesn't mean the the interaction was unsuccessful.
Some applied for disability compensation, other VA benefits. Others needed help
researching and existing claim connecting with other with another organization. Better
position to meet their immediate needs. Ultimately, the vlue of this measure is
not simply the percentage of new residents served. It's whether we're creating
multiple pathways into veteran services and connecting each resident to the right support
for their situation. Going forward. We'll continue strengthening referral
pathways and community relationships and improving how we document what happens
after the first connection. But access only the first step. residents reach us. Are
they receiving the services they need? All right. Commissioner Jeff is saying,
yeah, I just wanted to thank you for the outreach in the education that you do too.
>> Allow veterans their families and survivors who know what they're eligible
for, what they have earned to their amazing service to our country before working at the
county. I provided adult older adult services to the white Bear Lake area schools and one
of the we provided educational the time when the VA benefit person for Manatee County
would come. It was wonderful time for those individuals collect. And even if they were
here about potential things that they might be able to access in the future, be able
to realize that perhaps the role they served years and years ago was now the reason
for hearing loss and that those expensive hearing AIDS would be of the available and
help through services. And also because you are partnering with our local
service organizations, if there was something that wasn't part of their VA
benefits because they were their own benefits person are a person who was guiding
people to the local resources was able to give them additional This work has been
going on for a while. also want to say that that locally being able to have the you
come out to the Maplewood Service Center and different places like that has really
helped. I had an individual just very recently asking about burial services at Fort
Snelling and before I could even get back to him, he had done something from from the
our office is reminding them of services. He was able to go into the Maplewood Mall in
like within a couple of days. He got what he needed. And that's really what we're
hoping for. So I just want to thank you so much for for that type of outreach. It's really
important. >> So this prformance measure. So our second measure
tracks the percentage of veterans who report they received at the services they
need. In 2025. We change this measure from general resident satisfaction to a more
meaningful question. Did you receive the services? You need it? Because of that change
2025 establishes a new baseline. 96% of Veterans of survey respondents reported
that they received the services they need. We're encouraged by that result. But
we also want to hear from more residents increasing survey participation and using that
feedback to improve responsiveness and the overall resident experience our
priorities for us moving forward. This measure aligns with operational excellence
for Veterans Services, operational excellence isn't simply completing transaction
processing and application means providing knowledgeable, consistent response of service
meeting that residents. These rarely happens in isolation. It's often the results of our
staff coordinate indirectly with county, state and community partners, which is
part of why we track this is a shared outcome, not a transaction. Benefits are
complex and they often can change. So staff training and expertise are critical to
providing residents with accurate guidance and effective assistance. That
performance data gives only one view of the resident experience resident voice
helped show bt receiving the services someone needed can actually mean in their life.
So here's a quote from one of the veterans that we had served. So this veteran
reached out while she and her son were at risk of losing their housing. stands out
about her experiences? Not only that her immediate need was addressed how it happened.
Veteran services staff and our county partners work together, stating communication with her
and helped stabilize for housing. experience is powerful is a powerful example
of what we mean when we asked whether residents Reeser received the services they
need. And also reinforces that we don't do this work alone. Veterans often come to us
managing several things at once. Housing, financial stability, healthcare and many
other things previous work with and help them on this. Now as part the community
services i sports, we've built strong relationships across county departments
together with our community, state and federal partners. These relationships allow us
to provide more coordinated resident Senate sport rather than expecting veterans and
their families for NASA. multiple systems on their own. So those partnerships are
particularly important in our work toward an effective and 2 veteran homelessness within
the rant, a continuum of care. want clear pathways. So veterans who are experiencing
or at risk of homelessness are identified early and connected to Veterans Services and the
appropriate housing resources. That path labor works both ways partners connect veterans
to us. And one a veteran comes to our office with the housing need. We can quickly connect
them to a broader housing response. And what we want to address the immediate need
that bring someone to us. We also want to identify benefits that may contribute to the
residents, longer-term stability. And that brings us to our 3rd performance measure
before you do with the Vols. I'm just wondering, have we reached 100% veteran
homelessness? >> Say that one more time as reach the goal of 100% veteran
homelessness. It's a great question. >> Chair Moran. So it's to
reach 100% veteran to not be homeless. it's a matter of working together with our
partners cross Ramsey County, which doing. So we have the homeless veteran registry and
just because we reach effective into veteran homelessness doesn't mean
veterans never going to be homeless again. That just means that we have put
together a process where if someone comes into homelessness.
>> They will have a pathway forward and out within 90 days. So there's certain.
>> Benchmarks w have to meet in order to declare and effective in tow veteran
homelessness. And we're very close, by the way, probably 4th quarter of 2026, but I can
make from, Thank So very close Commissioner Thank you. Madam Chair.
>> Going back to the the percentage of veterans who report that they receive the
services that they need. One thing you mentioned was a hope that able to increase the
level percent off participation in the survey out of curiosity. What is the
current level of participation that we can't from both veterans? We serve.
>> Commissioner Tree. I'm so glad you asked because actually have that information
me and just have to find >> So I can give you the 2025 results. So in 22 and with
these are just in-person surveys that we do right now. So al of the total in-person
visit, we had 1557 of those 434 Good survey responses. So that's about a 20 28% rate. So
what we're hoping to do is by. Potentially doing text and doing it to Oliver
appointments, not just in person. So we do a lot of virtual outreach and different
things like that. So were many them out in the community so hoping to increase that. We
also have a pass code on it right now. So thinking of taking a pass cut off, which
and they can just do the QR code and take take the survey. >> Okay. Commissioners Thank
you. Madam Chair. Let's I just want to first say thank you so much for, you know, being able
to capture and work residents so directly and intimately just having this resident
voice is so important for folks on the topic or not housing and homelessness.
chair Moran mentioned here. What has the role of veterans are department been around the
encampment and also doing direct engagement out on the ground to see if there are
folks. >> Our 5 friends or family virus that also be eligible
for Commissioner John, so glad you asked. >> We have a joint powers
agreement a full-time position to bettering a rich social order and she is working with
our encampment team right now. So she goes out there once or twice a week with the team. I
think they got there 3 times a week. She's engaged Usually one 2 times. But we also have
information that we give to the outreach team so that they do identify a veteran. They
know where they can find us and then she's out there once or twice. We can come up with
individually. We're also at the scene pauper to the Senate. We're at union Gospel
mission. We're various libraries throughout the week as well. And then office at
Plato and Sunday. Okay. >> And is that a question that we're actively asking all the
residents to that? We're encountering if is, I former Commissioner Martinson said
that the term that's like having served in the military or are you a veteran like
that? There is a difference and help people responded whether or not they identified
as a veteran and that you would have to say, like, you know, have you served in the
military, So when we talk to other departments and community members were asking
them ask if they've served in the military, not if they're betting because vteran
definition can be very broad. >> People can in different ways. good. Yeah. Yeah. That's
Payton. It's just really important as we across one Ramsey County that you know
that cross training. >> But also being out in the community to to help serve
them because department would be able to help leverage additional federal if folks
want enroll didn't participate in those programs, we can leverage more funding and
support for them if they have served in the military. Continue. Ingram is 3.
>> All right. Let me just remember I'm at. All So our 3rd measure is the percentage
of veterans who served to apply. Veteran served 2 applied for at least one
qualified unfit. As county veteran service officers. We have a responsibility under
Minnesota law to help residents access and secure benefits available to them
because of their service. We chose this measure because it helps us understand whether
residents are moving from receiving information and guidance to taking action
toward accessing a benefit. They're eligible to receive. In 2025. 30 1% of the
veterans. We have we served applied for at least one qualified benefits compared
with 2020 25% in 2024. and 16% in 2020. Our goal is to reach 33% by 2028 and 38%. By 2030,
building on that progress as we strengthen our region. Referral pathways. This
measure connects to Ramsey County's residents entered holistic, supports priority.
Veterans. Don't come to us as a claim or single need depending on the resident. The
appropriate support might include VA disability compensation healthcare,
survivor benefits, state financial assistance or combination of benefits,
resources. Many of those benefits can provide ongoing income health care and other
supports that contribute to long-term stability. I also want to be clear about what
this measure tells us submitting an application is an important step, but it
isn't the final outcome. Every application represents a resident taking concrete step
toward accessing income health care or another and benefit. Well, that's is meaningful
progress. The outcome we ultimately want to understand is whether residents
successfully secure those benefits and how those benefits affect their lives.
So we can track outcomes for the state benefits. We submit our federal VA outcomes are
harder to tack those since those systems don't integrate with our case management
system. we're not automatically notified of every decision manually cross
referencing every submit a claim against federal or letters would take significant
amount of staff time away fom directly serving residents so improving that data connection
with our federal partners rather than closing the gap manually where we're focused
next. >> All right. retreat and you want to. And I'm sorry, get to
same old. So what are the questions that I have these kind of lead right into it,
which is a part of your goal is to connect. >> Our local veterans to the
services and the eligibility of things that they're eligible for. you talked about
it a Technicolor. It kind of data issue with with the federal government.
>> I guess one of the questions that I was going to ask is I know that there have
been severe cuts in the staff positions at the federal level. Some 40,000. I think
the last time I county could be more since then. How is that impacting your ability to
connect local veterans to the services that they've earned are the programs and
eligibility? The service Commissioner Devin Singh. >> It's a good there has been
a lot of cuts within the federal VA system. However. >> So this is can be a really
good >> So though those cuts haven't necessarily impact in
veterans for >> In how so I'll give you example. When we file a claim
federal VA clean prior to this current administration that we have right now. It was taking
about 160 days to get a claim from submitted developed for it. Right now. It's taking
about. Between 75 81 day. So it's actually going quicker. But what we're finding on our
level and this isn't too talk dirty about rba. But what we're finding is that there's
a lot of errors in and his decisions that are coming back. So we don't take the
time to review the claim. Read everything we're reading. Mike, the letters, the
compensation exams, everything to really understand why it was denied. And so we're
finding a lot of errors and those things and that what that does is cream or work for
us because then we have to file an appeal for a higher level of review. So all of
that takes time. So what we focus on in our office is again, going back to
operational excellence to make sure staff highly trained. No, the and 21 the 38 cfr so that
we can. Go in there submit really good claims. The first time. So not coming back and
we have to file all these extra things. So is the so they're quickly being
returned. But the >> are there quickly being denied.
>> Not all the but when tey are denied, it's usually because of an air.
>> Okay, I'm on are in this part or that or no on era, rates are big things. So it's
it's not unique think they talk about those. All right. Well thing, I really
appreciate that context because, you know, we hear about different cuts may hear
how it's impacting people. And I think idea that we continue to walk alongside are veterans
to make sure regardless of what is happening in the greater landscape that you're
helping them get to get what they've Thank you for thank I mean chair commissioner and
say I think some of those cuts are. >> Kinda ancillary to the work
that we do and not like directly like chance. Like what kind Dr Ross is talking
about. When I was reading about it has something to do with sometimes that the
federal veterans preference is where like they we hire a lot of veterans on the federal
level. And so there's like well, that walk away from some of those preferences
investments of that makes sense. I obviously VA hospitals were not responsible
for a hospital. I also did hear there was some things related to like a suicide
hotline So I think there's a lot things that have support veterans and not all of them
touched the county directly. >> so but they touch veterans in the community. If that
makes I over space seems like there's a lot of things. 40,000 people obviously are
supporting the infrastructure of the livelihood of veterans, you know, maybe not
necessarily in. Reimbursement processing directly, but you've even indicated there's
a little bit of a the hiccup to get off with some of that. thank you. Commissioner hurt
could? when? out read almost done. Told in a little bit longer.
>> So as we look ahead, our performance measures are helping us identify 3 areas of
focus. First will expand access. We'll continue strengthening our region
pathways while exploring more intentional approaches, such social media campaigns,
community presentations and partnerships with businesses in veteran employment groups
also continue exploring other strategies to reach veterans who may not already be
connected to traditional veteran networks. Second improved outcomes. We'll work
to hear from more residents by simplifying our survey and expanding it beyond in-person
visits through options, such as text. We're also developing internal dashboard using
Microsoft power of the eye. To help us identify trends, documentation, gaps in quality
assurance issues. And we're beginning conversations with our federal VA partners about
opportunities to improve access to claim outcome. Information. responded
changing needs changing changes in federal or state veterans benefits can also
create new eligibility stand demand for So we need to be able to update or knowledge
workflows and communications. >> As those changes occur. We'll continue investing in
staff training and expertise while strengthening. Our one ran to county and external
partnerships, the county's investment in more equitable competitions. Also help us
recruit retain experienced staff directly supporting the consistent knowledgeable
service. Residents depend on. >> There are challenges particular reach, particularly
reaching veterans who aren't already connected. >> veteran networks and
obtaining consistent. >> Federal benefit outcome data. Those challenges
reinforce the importance of collaboration with our community, state and federal
partners. So has a close these. These measures help us better understand whether
veterans and their families can find us receive the services they need and make
meaningful steps toward accessing the benefits they've earned. Just as importantly,
the data helps us identify where we can improve. And that shows how we intend to use the
measure. Moving forward. I want to thank the board county manager Packer, for your
continued support of veterans services, our partners for their collaboration our
veterans and families for trusting us to serve them. We're proud of the work we're
doing we know there's always more we can learn and improve. remain committed to ensuring
Ramsey County veterans and their families can access the benefits services and supports
a burned. So thank you. And I'm happy to answer more questions than right?
>> Want to thank Director Ross for for work Your leadership. Appreciate, especially in the
area. Various appreciate you. So on. Commissioners members of the public. County manager,
the You of the community service and support. Service scene. I just want to thank
all I want to thank the community. Services 14 with their presentation today in
for their commitment to improving the lives of Ramsey County residents by connecting
them 2 benefits, housing, employment and veteran services and more. The closure
of the encampments in Saint Paul has highlighted the acute need for these services and
especially thank you. >> Goes to that community service, support leaders and
staff instrumental in the county's response. service team continues to step up and
demonstrate the county's ability to be creative and number in how it connects 2
residents and services. So for all the next presentation will be tomorrow August the 28th
from 9 to for so Long Day. Come prepared to stay. The county operation Service team
will present their performance measures. So as a reminder, we want to encourage per public
participation in the budget process. You can participate by attending a public hearing.
Contact your commissioner for submitting a written comment to the chief clerk office
instructions on how to participate in a full schedule upcoming meetings is posted on
the but it and finest pay of Ramsey County website. Thank you all staying in
participating in. been great partners in support for the residents the county. Enjoy
even see you tomorrow. Right here at 9 o'clock. Thank you.