Supporting
Student Stability

Across Minneapolis, many of our neighbors are facing serious housing pressures. Those needs increased during Operation Metro Surge and are especially hard on families with children, undermining the stability students need to learn and thrive over time.

The Minneapolis Foundation’s latest OneMPLS grant responds to these overlapping needs by investing in trusted, school-based systems that already serve families every day. The OneMPLS Fund is awarding $500,000 over two years to Minneapolis Public Schools to expand housing stability support for students and their families through two complementary programs: Stable Homes Stable Schools and the school district’s Homeless and Highly Mobile Department.

This grant builds on the Foundation’s $3.28 million in OneMPLS funding for organizations providing food, housing, and other basic needs to Minnesotans impacted by the recent surge in immigration enforcement activity.

“Families are experiencing housing instability at a scale that requires both urgency and flexibility,” said R.T. Rybak, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation. “Minneapolis Public Schools already has trusted relationships with students and their families, making the district a critical partner in this work.”

“This partnership allows us to deliver supports to the students who need it the most,” said Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. “When families have housing stability, students can focus on their education rather than the uncertainty of their living situation. By removing these barriers, we can ensure our students can attend school consistently and succeed over the long term. We are grateful to the Minneapolis Foundation for recognizing that our schools are vital anchors of stability for our community.”

Photos courtesy of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority

Of the total investment, $400,000 will support Stable Homes Stable Schools, a partnership between the school district, Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority that works to prevent and end homelessness among families with elementary students. The grant will enable the program to expand eligibility from families earning below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) to those earning below 50% AMI, which is about $66,200 for a family of four. 

An additional $100,000 will give the Homeless and Highly Mobile Department more flexibility to provide one-time support for families with urgent expenses like rent, utilities, and car repairs, increasing its maximum grant amount from $1,000 to $2,000. 

Recent surges in need have strained both programs. Stable Homes Stable Schools experienced a 28 percent increase in referrals during Operation Metro Surge, including a 78 percent increase among non-English speaking families. The Homeless and Highly Mobile Department has also seen requests for assistance rise well beyond typical seasonal levels. 

The Minneapolis Public Schools funding builds on 26 OneMPLS grants totaling $3.28 million already distributed this year to organizations providing emergency assistance to metro-area households affected by Operation Metro Surge, including these three announced today: 

• $150,000 to Shir Tikvah Congregation in Minneapolis for its Yesod Fund, which provides direct assistance to households, with an average grant of $1,300. Funding will support approximately 115 households meet basic expenses like rent, vehicle repairs, medical bills, food, and utility bills.
• $200,000 to Greater Twin Cities United Way to provide nutritious, culturally specific food through grants to food shelf partners and an initiative called Flavors of Our Community.
• $130,000 to Mi C.A.S.A (Comunidad, Apoyo, Solidaridad and Amistad) to help cover rent, food, and basic utilities for approximately 60 to 70 immigrant families in Scott County and the southwest suburbs.

The OneMPLS Fund provides a pathway for people across our community to respond nimbly to emerging needs.