05-02-2025
'Any Path Home' push against homelessness continues to take shape
Feb. 4—ROCHESTER — Steps continue to be taken toward a united approach seeking to end homelessness in Olmsted County.
A draft of an "Any Path Home" charter is circulating among 10 partner agencies, with plans for the Rochester Area Foundation to serve as the backbone agency for the program.
"They will employ the staff for Any Path Home, and formal approval of legal commitments will go to the Rochester Area Foundation Board," Olmsted County Housing Director David Dunn told county commissioners Tuesday. "That's exactly the same setup and structure that exists today for Coalition for Rochester Area Housing, so we thought that would be a good one to emulate."
The Any Path effort would also include an advisory board and steering committee populated by participating members, including a county commissioner and Rochester City Council member. Dunn said the proposed design reflects the work of the agencies involved in a yearlong discussion.
"All of our partner agencies have been walking through this journey together," he said.
While Rochester Area Foundation will play a key role in organizing the program, he said the county will continue in a support function. It has already committed $300,000 through Housing and Redevelopment as startup funding. The county will provide office space alongside the Rochester Community Warming Center.
The work continues as Olmsted County agencies reported at least 147 people without stable shelter during the annual count held in late January, according to Olmsted County Associate Housing Director Mary O'Neil.
The Any Path Home charter points to a goal of reducing that number drastically, with finding less than three people as the target.
Dunn said Any Path Home will attempt to reach that goal by uniting partners with common goals, sharing data and seeking outcomes that connect people with stable housing and services needed to maintain it.
"It's really about taking great things that are going on in the community, somewhat in isolation, and getting them coordinated and ultimately building a collective impact model," he said of the effort.
In addition to county staff, organizing work on the initial plan included representatives from:
* Change Services
* Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota
* Dorothy Day House
* River Valleys Continuum of Care
* The Landing MN
* The Salvation Army
* Three Rivers Community Action
* Zumbro Valley Health Center
* City of Rochester
Dunn said the group of agencies was selected to start the program's focus with efforts to help homeless single adults find housing, but the effort is expected to expand to assist youth and families.
The proposed Any Path Home charter points to the inclusion of more members, as long as they are willing to commit to the united effort.
Olmsted County Commissioner Laurel Podulke-Smith said the program's goal is impressive, but she raised concerns about the draft of the charter the county board and HRA will be asked to support later this month.
"The content of it is not my concern," she said. "It's the way it is written. It's not a strong document, and it needs some editing."
Commissioner Dave Senjem agreed the document lacked clarity in some areas, but said that's a matter for the Rochester Area Foundation to address. He said the question county commissioners need to address is whether Olmsted County will continue working with the program.
"I think the charter can work itself out," he said, voicing support for the goals outlined.
Dunn said the charter is intended to be a starting point to shift work from the collective group of agencies to a single point person hired to lead the program.
He said applicants for the director position are being reviewed, adding that the work will help move work forward with a defined vision and focus that has been a challenge with multiple partners leading various aspects of the initial planning.
"Coordinating any 10 agencies is a lot of work," he said.
