Vail Communities

Website: https://vailcommunities.org/community-health-and-partnerships 

Integrated Partnerships

Integrated Partnerships at Vail Communities strives to identify and reduce barriers to traditional services and eliminate gaps in care. Our innovative approach to service delivery has created unique partnerships in our community. We seek to improve the overall health of our target population and connect those referred to appropriate services and support. Many people living with mental illness experience poorer health outcomes and have difficulty navigating the complex systems of social services, medical care, housing and accessing community resources. Integrated Partnerships recognizes that support looks different for everyone. Those referred have different needs and abilities. We provide short-term intensive service delivery to not only stabilize but enhance lives to be able to succeed and thrive in the community.

Assertive Outreach

What is Assertive Outreach & Stabilization?

Assertive Outreach (AO) is an integrated care model with a focus on intensive outreach efforts to engage with high-need, high-cost individuals, often whose needs have not been met through traditional models of care. AO was initiated as a value-based payment model with local managed care organizations to serve those with mental illness, trauma, chronic substance use disorders & physical health co-morbidities.

We work as part of an integrated care team alongside System Navigators, Community Health Workers, and a Registered Nurse. This program addresses individuals’ many needs in ensuring continuity of care, referrals to needed resources, coordination with external partners, housing support, and connecting to long term support while utilizing a person-center approach to care. We strive to decrease systemic barriers to accessing support by simplifying our referral process, qualifications, and intake to rapidly connect with individuals referred.

Referrals are identified by Care Coordinators, Social Workers, mental health clinic providers and medical providers. Those referred typically have high hospitalization or ED utilization patterns, chronic unmanaged health conditions, limited support, or engagement in other programs, and often have limited knowledge of services, supports and systems. We provide 6-18 months of short-term system navigation.

Program Goals & Outcomes:

How we help:

Vail Connect

What is Vail Connect?

Vail Communities has partnered with North Memorial Health since 2014. Initiated as an Accountable Care Organization, Vail Communities has continued to expand services to meet the needs of the community. Our unique partnership targets patients who live with serious mental illness and/or serious persistent mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or physical health co-morbidities. Many individuals North Memorial refers to Vail are experiencing homelessness, are frequently seen in the hospital or emergency department, and experience negative health outcomes related to social determinants of health.

We strive to decrease systemic barriers to accessing support by simplifying our referral process, qualifications, and intake to rapidly connect those referred to support. Individuals referred have access to short-term Care Navigation Services (Vail Connect), Rapid Access to Case Management, Housing Group, and Assertive Outreach and Stabilization Program (AO.) These care pathways allow Vail Communities to support individuals in overcoming traditional barriers to health and recognize that those referred have different needs, abilities and that support looks different for everyone.

Vail Connect Care Navigation Services are limited to people connected to North Memorial Health and affiliated clinics. Please reach out if you need assistance making a referral.

Program Goals and Outcomes:

How we help:

If you are 18+ and currently experiencing a housing emergency in Hennepin County, please call the Hennepin Shelter Hotline at 612-204-8200, or visit the below online resources:

https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/coordinated-entry 

https://simpsonhousing.org/programs/adult-shelter-connect/ 

https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/emergency-assistance 

Rapid Rehousing Program

The Vail Communities Rapid Rehousing (RRH) program connects prospective renters to local market-rate vacancies. In addition, short-term financial assistance, renter education, and tenancy supports are provided to program participants to best achieve positive rental outcomes. This program transitions unhoused adults, who are actively staying in Hennepin County emergency shelters, to a new home. The Vail Communities RRH Case Managers help individuals to obtain housing in a timely fashion, ensure tenant lease requirements are being met, administer rental assistance as needed, and offer ongoing supports to maintain housing placements long-term. Before becoming a participant of the Vail Communities RRH program, individuals must have an assessment conducted by the local shelter they are staying at and get formally referred to our program by the Coordinated Entry System (more info at the link below). Once enrolled, a Vail Communities RRH Case Manager is assigned to support in finding the right kind of housing based on a person’s needs and preferences. How to access RRH services: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/coordinated-entry

Transitional Rent Assistance Program

This program offers short-term tenant-based subsidy assistance, powered by donations from Ken and Janet Talle, to qualifying Vail Communities members. Income-based rental assistance is provided as needed to those who are waiting for their name to reach the top of permanent subsidized wait-lists, or actively increasing their earnings to achieve program graduation through reaching self-sufficiency. Participants also receive ongoing tenancy supports from our housing team to ensure their housing is sustained and successful. This program waitlist for new applicants is currently closed.

Hamilton House

The St. Louis Park Housing Authority owns and operates this project-based subsidized property, dedicated to offering safe and affordable housing to eligible low-income households. Vail Communities has an on-site ROSS Service Coordinator providing tenancy supports to residents of Hamilton House apartments. Those eligible for public housing pay 30% of their adjusted income for rent. Wait-list applications are accepted and managed by the St. Louis Park Housing Authority and must meet eligibility requirements to apply. How to apply for the Hamilton House wait-list: https://www.stlouisparkmn.gov/government/departments-divisions/housing/rental-assistance-housing-authority/public-housing 

Dow Towers

The Hopkins Housing Authority owns and operates this project-based subsidized property, dedicated to offering safe and affordable housing to eligible low-income households. Vail Communities has an on-site ROSS Service Coordinator providing tenancy supports to residents of Dow Towers apartments. Those eligible for public housing pay 30% of their adjusted income for rent. Wait-list applications are accepted and managed by the Hopkins Housing Authority and must meet eligibility requirements to apply. How to apply for the Dow Towers wait-list: https://www.hopkinsmn.com/228/Public-Housing 

Vail in the Park

Vail Communities owns an eight-unit project-based subsidized building in St. Louis Park. Qualified tenants pay a rent amount that equals 30% of their monthly income, and receive ongoing tenancy supports from our housing team to ensure their housing is sustained and successful. This program waitlist for new applicants is currently closed.

Louisiana Court

Vail Communities offers tenancy sustaining services to eighteen units of affordable apartment rentals in St. Louis Park. These units are filled through a closed referral source and are reserved for individuals meeting HUD’s definition of Long-Term Homeless. Tenants pay 30% of their income and receive ongoing tenancy supports from our housing team to ensure their housing is maintained and successful.

Information on Subsidized Housing

There are two types of subsidized housing; Tenant-Based (vouchers) & Project-Based (income-based buildings).

Tenant-Based Subsidies

There are many types of tenant-based voucher programs that have varying eligibility requirements (Section 8, Shelter + Care, Bridges, VASH), with Section 8 being the most common, and often the term used to describe subsidies in general. Section 8 is a government-funded program that assists low-income households in paying their rent on private, market-rate rental units. The rent amount a tenant is responsible for will be 30% to 40% of the household’s adjusted gross income. The assigned Housing Authority will then pay the remaining portion of rent directly to the property. If a tenant moves, the voucher stays with them and can be utilized at a new property.

Waiting-lists for vouchers are often long or closed, but are free to apply for when available. To qualify for a Section 8 voucher, you must fall within Minnesota’s income limits. For a list of which Housing Authorities currently have open waiting-lists, information on landlords who accept vouchers, as well as area income limits, visit Housinglink.org

Project-Based Subsidies

In this type of subsidy, rental assistance is tied to the building, rather than being attached to the tenant. Project-based buildings can be publicly owned by HUD or privately owned by an owner with a contract with HUD. If a tenant moves out of a project-based unit, the subsidy does not go with them. Often times, rental cost is 30% of the household adjusted gross income. There may be a variety of housing types available through this program including single-family homes, townhomes, or apartments.

Interested applicants must apply to each individual property that participates in the program, with some properties having tenant requirements such as a minimum age or disability. Waiting-lists for these properties vary in length but are frequently free to apply to. Once you are selected from a waiting list, you may be invited to tour the property and offered a unit; however, there may be a limited number of available units to choose from.

Individuals can search for these units via Housinglink.org. Simply enter your county of preference and check “Subsidized housing” in the search filter, to view which project-based Section 8 and public housing units have open wait-lists. Ask the property manager what their screening criteria is for applicants, and if there are any policies that automatically disqualify prospective renters.

Other project-based programs operate in a similar manner, including: Section 202, Section 236, Section 515 for rural areas, and Section 811.

Supportive Housing Types

Finding the right type of housing depends on an individual’s income, needs, and preferences. Visit mn.hb101.org/nav/programs to navigate the many different options and compare various housing types.

A brief description of common housing types:

• Board and Lodge: Settings with a license from the Department of Health that provide meals, lodging, and basic accommodations. Settings vary widely, including Intensive Residential Treatment, emergency shelters, and transitional housing.
• Adult Foster Care: Settings for 4-5 people with disabilities that provides food, lodging, supervision, individualized services, and protection. Services are often waiver-funded.
• Assisted Living / Customized Living: Settings providing up to 24 hour, long term customized supportive services and meals in site-based settings. Services are often waiver-funded.
• Permanent Supportive Housing: model of housing that is affordable and offers voluntary housing stability services to people with disabilities experiencing long-term homelessness.
• Transitional Housing: Medium-term (up to 24 months) affordable housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.
• Rapid Rehousing: Short- to medium-term (up to 24 months, most often 3-6 months) housing access services, rental subsidy, and case management for people experiencing homelessness.

Asking Good Questions

When you are seeking housing assistance and actually calling or meeting with potential landlords and housing providers, it’s a good idea to ask the right questions to get maximum information and increase your chances of receiving the housing arrangement that’s right for you. We encourage you to follow this process:

• Write down the address and description of the building.
• Ask if there are any openings for your desired bedroom size and if not, when they may be available.
• If there are no current openings, ask when you should call/inquire about openings again.
• Ask about their selection criteria for new tenants.
• Ask if you work with people who have marks on their background check (if applicable).
• Ask if rental subsidies are accepted (if applicable).
• Ask how much the application fee is.
• Ask if a security deposit is required and if so, how much.
• Ask which utilities, if any, are included in rent.
• Ask if pets are allowed, and if there is a separate security deposit for pets (if applicable).

Clubhouse Community Support Program

The Clubhouse is a "One-Stop Shop", functioning as a community-based hub, a single point for people to access, integrate, and coordinate a range of services to work toward mental health recovery.

Vail Communities offers three Community Support Programs for adults living with serious mental illnesses based on the Clubhouse model.

The Vail Communities Clubhouses are just three of over 300 programs that follow the Clubhouse Model. A Clubhouse is a place where members and staff work together side-by-side to operate all aspects of the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse can also help with housing, employment, education, health and wellness and so much more. The Clubhouses also offers a wide variety of social, recreational, and cultural events and activities.

Want to Become a Clubhouse Member?

If you’d like to join the Clubhouse or would like to refer someone else, fill out this Referral form and Staff and Members will reach out to the potential Member to schedule a tour!

Click Here to fill out the Membership Referral Form!

Want to learn more about the Clubhouse?

If you'd like to learn more about our Clubhouse Programs, consider coming for a tour or having our Speakers Bureau come and speak to your organization. The Vail Communities Speakers Bureau is a group of Staff and Members from our Clubhouse program that can share personal stories of resilience and recovery and learn about our innovative Clubhouse program.

If you'd like to find a time to come for a tour and experience our vibrant and welcoming community, have us come to host a table at an event or come and speak at a Staff meeting,  Click Here to fill out the form!

Frequently Asked Questions

Clubhouse Enrollment Coordinators

Nikki Roehl- Hopkins and Uptown Clubhouse 
952-300-5378
nroehl@vailcommunities.org
Cai Selmo- Ramsey County Clubhouse 
763-406-6419
cselmo@vailcommunities.org