Housing Support (GRH) Reports on use of COVID-19 Spending Allocation Due by September 30

Posted on September 2, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry

The Minnesota Legislature approved a one-time appropriation to temporarily increase Housing Support funding through the Department of Human Services for expenses in the months of March, April, and May 2020.

The increased funding was intended to help maintain access to room and board, including activities necessary to comply with federal and state health and safety guidance, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation requires all vendors to submit documentation by 9/30/2020 showing that increased funding was used for COVID-19 related expenses.

DHS mailed a letter on 8/24/2020 to each agency. The letter details the total amount paid under your Agency ID number.

Reporting for these payments is based on an ID number assigned to your agency. The number can be found at the top of the letter received from DHS. When multiple business names were associated with one address, DHS assigned an ID number to each and made a corresponding payment.

How do I complete a report?

1. Choose one person from your agency to complete a report at https://bit.ly/reportmy15percent.
2. Report expenses once for each Agency ID number that you received.
3. Reports do not need to be broken down by location, program, or person.
4. Reporting must be completed as soon as possible, but no later than 9/30/2020.

What kinds of expenses are eligible?
Any expenses that are related to provision of room and board or supplemental service rate standards in response to federal or state health and safety guidance regarding COVID-19. Examples include, but are not limited to the following:

• Costs to help providers maintain staffing levels to ensure minimum room and board and supplemental service rate standards.
• Costs for cleaning, hygiene, sanitation, or personal protection equipment for staff or residents.
• Modifications for quarantine or isolation spaces in order to meet recommended guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health.
• Costs to maintain or reconfigure meal programs or meal delivery services.

Do I need to submit receipts or other proof to validate spending?
No, simply report how and what was spent related to COVID-19.  (It is advised you retain any receipts or other documentation you may have in case of potential future audits).

Decided not to utilize the funds or need a new check?
Checks that have not been cashed will be automatically cancelled on 10/1/2020. If you have not received one or all of the checks, please use the information from the reporting notice letter to request an affidavit to receive replacement checks at syscomp.MMB@state.mn.us.

What if our agency did not spend all of the funds?
When the form is electronically submitted, information will appear on where to return any unused allocation.

Other problems?
If your agency does not receive the reporting letter from DHS, or is unable to make a report at

https://bit.ly/reportmy15percent, please contact dhs.dhs.grh@state.mn.us.