CARES Expanded Services

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

In September 2020 Hennepin County Human Services identified a need to provide an expanded level of services to community organizations, businesses, and service providers in Hennepin County. Seeing the impact as a result of the coronavirus on services to residents, Hennepin County extended an opportunity to communities to apply for $2.5 M in CARES funding for Expanded Community Services. Through this opportunity Hennepin County was able to fund expanded services to assist communities impacted by COVID-19, especially low income, and communities of color. Funding was awarded to 88 community organizations, non-profit organizations, Mutual Assistance Associations, faith-based organizations, and social and human organizations with grant amounts ranging to $50,000 to support services and/or expanded services to targeted populations. With priority given to those organizations providing culturally appropriate services, funds awarded were used to expanded services, purchase equipment and PPE, increase staffing, operations, etc. to individuals put at a higher risk of COVID exposure due to employment, rate of infection by race, and individuals served in human services i.e. child protection, mental health services, DOCCR, disabilities, housing instability, young parents, etc. In addition, this opportunity provided support to community organizations that had seen an increase in demand for services including support for victims of domestic violence, senior citizens, chemical health, language assistance and those in need of legal assistance. This opportunity helped to provide services to tens of thousands of Hennepin County residents directly impacted by the pandemic who might not otherwise have been served.