BEst Practices

Rapid Exit is a nationally-recognized Hennepin County program to quickly move families and individuals out of emergency shelters into housing. The county works with non-profit agencies to move families out of shelters, as well as to support transitioning families for six months in their new housing.

Rapid Exit has successfully helped 88 percent of participants remain out of the shelter system for a year or longer. The program has reduced the number of homeless families in shelters by 63 percent and cut the average length of stay in shelters in half between 2000 and 2003.

Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program
The Family Housing and Prevention Assistance Program prevents families from becoming homeless, limits instances of homelessness, and prevents instances of homelessness from reoccurring in Minnesota through partnerships between counties and non-profit service providers.

Whenever possible, the program helps those on the verge of homelessness maintain their current housing. Since it is 10 times more costly to provide emergency shelter and re-house a family, this is a more cost-efficient model. To further maximize funds, recipients receive funding according to their specific needs.

our progress

Progress Overview Best Practices

featured testimonial

Gail Dorfman
Hennepin County Commissioner, Co-chair of the Commission to End Homelessness

“In all my years working on this issue, I believe that now, more than ever before, we are on our way to ending homelessness..."

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