1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to human services; establishing a homeless youth cash stipend pilot project;
1.3 requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. HOMELESS YOUTH CASH STIPEND PILOT PROJECT.
1.6 Subdivision 1.Pilot project established. The commissioner of human services shall
1.7 establish a homeless youth cash stipend pilot project to provide a direct cash stipend to
1.8 homeless youth in Hennepin and St. Louis Counties. The pilot project must be designed to
1.9 meet the needs of underserved communities.
1.10 Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
1.11 meanings given.
1.12 (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
1.13 (c) "Homeless youth" means a person 18 to 24 years of age who lacks a fixed, regular,
1.14 and adequate nighttime residence. The following are not fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime
1.15 residences:
1.16 (1) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary
1.17 living accommodations;
1.18 (2) an institution or a publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary
1.19 living accommodations;
1.20 (3) transitional housing;
2.1 (4) a temporary placement with a peer, friend, or family member that has not offered
2.2 permanent residence, a residential lease, or temporary lodging for more than 30 days; or
2.3 (5) a public or private place not designed for, nor ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping
2.4 accommodation for human beings.
2.5 Subd. 3.Administration. The commissioner, as authorized by Minnesota Statutes,
2.6 section 256.01, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (6), shall contract with Youthprise to:
2.7 (1) identify eligible homeless youth under this section;
2.8 (2) provide technical assistance to cash stipend recipients;
2.9 (3) engage with cash stipend recipients to develop youth-designed optional services;
2.10 (4) evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the pilot program;
2.11 (5) collaborate with youth leaders of each county to identify and contract with the
2.12 appropriate service providers to offer financial coaching, housing navigation, employment,
2.13 education services, and trauma-informed mentoring and support; and
2.14 (6) submit annual updates and a final report to the commissioner.
2.15 Subd. 4.Eligibility. Homeless youth who are 18 to 24 years of age and who live in
2.16 Hennepin or St. Louis County at the time of initial enrollment are eligible to participate in
2.17 the pilot project.
2.18 Subd. 5.Cash stipend. The commissioner, in consultation with Youthprise and Hennepin
2.19 and St. Louis Counties, shall establish a stipend amount for eligible homeless youth who
2.20 participate in the pilot project.
2.21 Subd. 6.Stipends not to be considered income. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the
2.22 contrary, cash stipends under this section must not be considered income, assets, or personal
2.23 property for purposes of determining eligibility or recertifying eligibility for:
2.24 (1) child care assistance programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B;
2.25 (2) general assistance, Minnesota supplemental aid, and food support under Minnesota
2.26 Statutes, chapter 256D;
2.27 (3) housing support under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256I;
2.28 (4) the Minnesota family investment program and diversionary work program under
2.29 Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J; and
2.30 (5) economic assistance programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256P.
3.1 (b) The commissioner must not consider cash stipends under this section as income or
3.2 assets for medical assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.056, subdivision 1a,
3.3 paragraph (a); 3; or 3c.
3.4 Subd. 7.Report. The commissioner, in cooperation with Youthprise and Hennepin and
3.5 St. Louis Counties, shall submit a final report on Youthprise's findings regarding the efficacy
3.6 and cost-effectiveness of the homeless youth cash stipend pilot project to the chairs and
3.7 ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over homeless
3.8 youth policy and finance by January 15, 2027.
3.9 Subd. 8.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2027.
3.10 Sec. 2. HOMELESS YOUTH CASH STIPEND PILOT PROJECT;
3.11 APPROPRIATION.
3.12 $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from
3.13 the general fund to the commissioner of human services for a grant to Youthprise for the
3.14 homeless youth cash stipend pilot project. These funds must be used to provide cash stipends
3.15 to homeless youth, provide cash incentives for stipend recipients to participate in periodic
3.16 surveys, provide youth-designed optional services, and complete the legislative report. The
3.17 base appropriation for this purpose is $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $3,000,000 for fiscal
3.18 year 2027, and $0 for fiscal year 2028.
