Tag: Hennepin County Board

Commissioner Chris LaTondresse (HC Dist. 6) Update: May 22, 2021

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved several important actions including establishing Juneteenth as a paid holiday, the Hennepin County Consortium 2021 Action Plan to be submitted to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, enter into a Joint Powers Agreement for the construction, operation, maintenance, and use of the North Metro Regional Public Safety Training Facility, and allocating up to $15,000,000 in CARES Act funds to Hennepin Healthcare Systems for eligible COVID-19 related expenses. More details on these actions can be found in this newsletter.

Updates in this week’s newsletter:

✍️ My statement on establishing Juneteenth as a paid holiday: Juneteenth falls on Saturday, June 19, in 2021. Therefore, Hennepin County will observe the previous workday, Friday, June 18, as a paid holiday for employees and close county offices.

Continue reading “Commissioner Chris LaTondresse (HC Dist. 6) Update: May 22, 2021”

Hennepin County Board approves a record $17 million for affordable housing projects

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It’s the largest amount awarded by the board to support affordability. 

Hennepin County is spending a record $17 million for 27 affordable housing and development projects this year to create nearly 2,300 units and the county’s first low-income rent-reduction subsidy program.

The grants are the largest amount ever awarded by the board at one time to support affordable housing, officials said. The awards represent more than double the funding approved for affordable housing in 2018, and it’s part of the county’s 10-year plan to bolster housing for its poorest families and most vulnerable residents.

The projects are sprinkled throughout the county and will consist of 1,550 new or improved affordable housing units. There will also be another 800 units in major transit corridors with commercial and community space. Nearly 400 units are designated for households with the lowest income of less than 30% of the area median income, or about $31,450 for a four-person household. Continue reading.

Hennepin County Board declares racism a public health crisis

The board voted to declare racism a public health crisis in Hennepin County.

Due to racism, Black, Indigenous and people of color in Hennepin County statistically have poorer educational outcomes, earn less, and are less likely to own homes or have access to quality health care and jobs than White people. These disparities have lifelong impacts, including higher disease rates, and, as we’re seeing now, higher rates of COVID-19.

Naming racism as a systemic cause to disparities is key to continue to move this work forward.

Read the full news release.

Hennepin County Board Committee Chairs

The board selected the following committee chairs:

  • Administration, Libraries and Budget: Commissioner Debbie Goettel, District 5
  • Health and Human Services: Commissioner Angela Conley, District 4
  • Intergovernmental Relations: Commissioner Jan Callison, District 6, and Mike Opat, District 1
  • Public Safety: Commissioner Jeff Johnson, District 7
  • Public Works: Commissioner Mike Opat, District 1