Anoka County approves slate of Human Services contracts covering homeless outreach, naloxone distribution, fraud prevention and corrections services

The Anoka County Board approved a package of Human Services contracts that county officials said will expand homeless outreach, support corrections operations and boost public-health and anti-fraud efforts.

Commissioner Meissner moved the slate of seven items and Commissioner Jepsen seconded. The board approved the full package by unanimous roll call.

Key items included: - An amendment to contract C0010039 with Guild Inc. to continue street outreach and emergency hotel shelter services. The contract funds 3.5 full-time-equivalent outreach staff and capacity to house up to eight households through Guild’s emergency hotel program; funding source identified as local homeless prevention aid from the Minnesota Department of Revenue. - An increase to contract C0011184 with Radius Health to a total of $130,000 for January–December 2025 to expand intensive services for uninsured individuals to prevent hospitalizations, with line-item increases in ACT services and client flexible funds. - A joint-powers agreement with the Minnesota Department of Corrections (contract C0011667) to continue the DOC work-release program for eligible state inmates nearing release; county staff described the arrangement as a long-standing local-state partnership. - Amendment 3 to contract C001022 with Summit Food Service to extend the existing community corrections food-service agreement by up to one year (through 06/30/2026) and implement a 3% price increase effective 07/01/2025; speakers noted rising food costs and mandated nutrition protocols. - Renewal of the fraud-prevention investigation agreement (contract C0011628) between county Economic Assistance and the sheriff for state fiscal year 2026, increasing the amount to $490,432 (a $84,398 increase, ~29.6%) to support investigative capacity; presenters said the program has previously recovered millions and that demand is increasing. - A contract C0011650 with the Steve Rumler Hope Network (opioid solutions initiative) for naloxone distribution, training and tracking funded by the statewide pharmaceutical settlement, not to exceed $100,000 through May 30, 2027; goal is to place naloxone emergency kits at AED locations and expand training. - Contract C0011648 with Goodwill Easterseals to continue a job-training partnership funded by state and federal grants; county staff said no county levy funds were required for this contract.

Meissner said there were no public comments on these items and that additional informational presentations had been provided to the committee. The board recorded unanimous approval with no amendments noted in the meeting record.