Project grantees county service area

Background

The PATH program prioritizes serving people with complex needs and barriers to housing who are often difficult to locate, engage in services, and connect to resources to meet their basic needs. The PATH program services work to find and then assist people to connect to community-based services and transition from homelessness.

Primary services through PATH program are:

• Outreach
• Case management

The PATH program services may also include:

• Screening and diagnostic assessment
• Community based mental health services
• Community based substance use treatment services
• Limited housing supports

History

The federal Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990 created the PATH program. Available in all states and territories, the PATH program supports the delivery of outreach and services to individuals aged 18 and older with serious mental illnesses and those with co-occurring substance use disorder who are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness. 

Since 1987, Minnesota has supported outreach services for persons with mental illness who are homeless. In 1991, PATH funds were used to expand outreach services within Minnesota by supporting several projects in the Twin Cities Metro area and in Greater Minnesota.  In 2023, Minnesota appropriated additional funding to PATH which resulted in additional PATH project grantees.  Currently, there are seventeen Minnesota PATH project grantees across the state.

Impact of Homelessness

Homelessness for people with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorder in Minnesota remains a persistent and increasing problem. Wilder Research reported that in 2018, 11,371 people were homeless on a single night, an increase of 10% since 2015. Most adults experiencing homelessness (81%) have either a chronic physical health condition (57%), serious mental illness (64%), or substance use disorder (24%). Half have more than one of these conditions. 

In 2023, there were 2,615 persons contacted by PATH-funded providers, with 878 of the people contacted becoming enrolled. Over half of these enrollees were chronically homeless. When first contacted, 35.9% were living in a place not meant for human habitation, 26.3% were staying in emergency shelter, 6.7% were staying in an institutional setting that were being exited without housing, and the remaining were residing in temporary housing situations or at imminent risk of homelessness.

Grantees

The program projects are supported by the federal PATH grant in combination with state funds. Grantees work to: 

• Establish partnerships with the local housing and homeless organizations that have available supportive housing units, rental subsidies, or other affordable housing opportunities available
• Partner with the county local mental health authority, regional adult mental health initiative, or a Tribal Nation to link people to behavioral health care services and eligible resources
• Provide recovery-oriented, person-centered services, linking people to community behavioral health services
• Utilize Certified Peer Specialists and Peer Recovery Specialists to provide services
• Provide access to SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) services 
• Offer case management services