Questions and Answers during the 2021-2023 Healthy Housing Grant RFP Period
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Questions and Answers during the 2021-2023
Healthy Housing Grant RFP Period
Question 1:
I’m trying to see if the healthy housing grant might be something that could help me find the
research and implementation of a project I have been working on for a couple years off and on
(my off work time). I have discussed it with EPA employees as well as MPCA. It deals with the
collection and recycle of plastic that is currently just discarded in local trash, but shouldn’t. The
plastic comes from PD dialysis patients who do home dialysis and currently have a disparity of
unequal practices of that of their Hemo office dialysis peers. The disposal and collection should
be the same as office and hospital patients but currently treated as everyday waste for our local
haulers to unknowingly handle. This bio hazard waste ends up in the landfills and i have a
solution on how to reuse that collected plastic as a mixture in the asphalt we use on our
freeways. I would like to know the options of any on grant funding that might assist in
executing my plan. I have a business plan along with initial research to support my project. If
you have any information that might help me would be greatly appreciated.
Answer: We are unable to comment on specific projects or applications for the Healthy Housing
Grants. We encourage anyone to submit an application for projects they believe fit within the
scope and areas of work described in the Eligible Projects section of the Healthy Housing Grant
2021-2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) found on the MDH Healthy Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website.
Question 2:
I was forward the Healthy Housing Grants and I was wondering if you can tell me if my company
is qualified for this grant. We are a profit Company that provide interpretation
services. Sometimes we get requested for interpreters to provide interpretation services to
Organization that Provides education materials to the general public and to property owners,
contractors, code officials, and other persons and organizations engaged in housing and health
issues. We do not provide indirect services for Housing-based health threats so that is why I'm
questioning we meet the qualification. Please let me know so I can start the application
process.
Answer: For your question about eligibility, I would suggest you refer to the Eligible Applicants
section on page five of the RFP. This states: “Eligible applicants are community health boards,
community action agencies (designated and recognized under Minnesota Statutes Section 256E.31),
and nonprofit organizations with expertise in providing outreach, education, and training on
healthy housing subjects and in providing comprehensive healthy housing assessments and
interventions. Nonprofit organizations must have current 501(c)3 status from the IRS.”
Question 3:
1QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
My question is do we have to provide indirect services for housing-based Health threats to be
eligible?
Answer: For an organization to be eligible to apply for this grant, it must meet BOTH criteria
listed in the Eligible Applicants section on page five of the RFP.
▪ The organization must provide outreach, education, and training on healthy housing
subjects and in providing comprehensive healthy housing assessments and interventions
▪ The organization must be a non-profit organization with current 501(c)3 status from the IRS
or other eligible entity (a community health board or a designated community action
agency).
Organizations that are not eligible to apply for the Healthy Housing Grant could partner with an
eligible organization who is interested in applying.
Question 4:
I just received a email about a grant that is available. I'm wondering if I can use it for a new air
conditioner & furnace w/ a air purifier? I read some of the things it can be used for but didn't
know if it would extend to other things. Thank you for your time.
Answer: Thank you for your email. We are unable to comment on specific projects or
applications for the Healthy Housing Grants. We encourage anyone to submit an application for
projects they believe fit within the scope and areas of work described in the Eligible Projects
section of the Healthy Housing Grant 2021-2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) found on the MDH
Healthy Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website.
For questions about eligibility for the grant, I would suggest you refer to the Eligible Applicants
section on page five of the RFP. This states: “Eligible applicants are community health boards,
community action agencies (designated and recognized under Minnesota Statutes Section 256E.31),
and nonprofit organizations with expertise in providing outreach, education, and training on
healthy housing subjects and in providing comprehensive healthy housing assessments and
interventions. Nonprofit organizations must have current 501(c)3 status from the IRS.”
Question 5:
I’m interested in applying for this grant and creating healthy housing for my community. Would
I need to be connected to a organization or can I do it without being connected to one?
Answer: Thank you for your email. For your question about eligibility, I would suggest you refer
to the Eligible Applicants section on page five of the RFP. This states: “Eligible applicants are
community health boards, community action agencies (designated and recognized under
Minnesota Statutes Section 256E.31), and nonprofit organizations with expertise in providing
outreach, education, and training on healthy housing subjects and in providing comprehensive
2QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
healthy housing assessments and interventions. Nonprofit organizations must have current
501(c)3 status from the IRS.”
Question 6:
I have received an email to apply for the healthy housing grant and I am interested if you can
please contact me and let me know what my steps would be is applying for it please reach out
to me at this email.
Answer: Thank you for your email. Information about the Healthy Housing Grants is available at
the MDH Healthy Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website. Applicants must complete the Healthy Housing Grant Application. The Healthy Housing
Grant Application may be found in Attachment B of the 2021-2023 Healthy Housing Grant RFP
and Application (PDF). Additional instructions and forms, like the Due Diligence Review Form,
are also provided in the Healthy Housing Grant RFP.
For questions about eligibility for the grant, I would suggest you refer to the Eligible Applicants
section on page five of the RFP. This states: “Eligible applicants are community health boards,
community action agencies (designated and recognized under Minnesota Statutes Section 256E.31),
and nonprofit organizations with expertise in providing outreach, education, and training on
healthy housing subjects and in providing comprehensive healthy housing assessments and
interventions. Nonprofit organizations must have current 501(c)3 status from the IRS.”
Question 7:
Would it be acceptable to focus on just one housing-based health threat (e.g., water supply) or
is it preferred that multiple threats be address?
Answer: Grant Applicants can focus on one housing-based health threat or multiple threats.
The housing threats grant applicants focus on should tie in closely with the needs of the
communities they serve.
Question 8:
Would private well water supply testing for chemicals of concern in at-risk areas be eligible
under this grant?
Answer: We are unable to comment on specific projects or applications for the Healthy Housing
Grants. Similar types of expenses have been approved at the request of past grantees. The
grantee shall not exceed $750 per house unless prior approval is obtained from MDH. Any
additional supplies to address specific hazards (that not listed under the Intervention Supplies
section of the RFP) are subject to approval by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). You can
include a justification for the expense in your application. Expenses to address specific hazards
that arise over the course of the grant should be discussed with MDH, and a written
justification should be provided. We encourage anyone to submit an application for projects
they believe fit within the scope and areas of work described in the Eligible Projects section of
3QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
the Healthy Housing Grant 2021-2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) found on the MDH Healthy
Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website.
Question 9:
Would assistance with cost and installation of individual water treatment devices be eligible
under this grant?
Answer: We are unable to comment on specific projects or applications for the Healthy Housing
Grants. Similar types of expenses have been approved at the request of past grantees. The
grantee shall not exceed $750 per house unless prior approval is obtained from MDH. Any
additional supplies to address specific hazards (that not listed under the Intervention Supplies
section of the RFP) are subject to approval by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). You can
include a justification for the expense in your application. Expenses to address specific hazards
that arise over the course of the grant should be discussed with MDH, and a written
justification should be provided. We encourage anyone to submit an application for projects
they believe fit within the scope and areas of work described in the Eligible Projects section of
the Healthy Housing Grant 2021-2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) found on the MDH Healthy
Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website.
Question 10:
I am definitely interested in applying for the, Healthy Homes Grant. If there is any
additional information you can provide me that you may feel is relevant and helpful, please let
me know; it’d be very much appreciated.
Answer: Information about the Healthy Housing Grants is available at the MDH Healthy
Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website. Applicants must complete the Healthy Housing Grant Application. The Healthy Housing
Grant Application may be found in Attachment B of the 2021-2023 Healthy Housing Grant RFP
and Application (PDF). Additional instructions and forms, like the Due Diligence Review Form,
are also provided in the Healthy Housing Grant RFP.
For questions about eligibility for the grant, I would suggest you refer to the Eligible Applicants
section on page five of the RFP. This states: “Eligible applicants are community health boards,
community action agencies (designated and recognized under Minnesota Statutes Section
256E.31), and nonprofit organizations with expertise in providing outreach, education, and
training on healthy housing subjects and in providing comprehensive healthy housing
assessments and interventions. Nonprofit organizations must have current 501(c)3 status from
the IRS.”
4QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
Question 11:
I’m wondering if you know whether this grant would be more feasible for us to apply for? We
would most likely not fulfill the requirements for the HUD grant. I was considering applying for
the Healthy Housing mini grant since I believe there won’t be an opportunity to apply for this
grant until it’s renewed in another 2 years. If there is a capacity to be selected for a grant award
at some point I wanted to share some brainstorming ideas I had for utilizing it:
▪ Populations impacted: children under 6 years-old living in pre-1978 homes, immigrant
families with young children who may utilize lead-containing imported products/speak
preferred language other than English.
▪ Intervention supplies: lead test kits, lead information brochures, training/education forum.
▪ Primary prevention: widely distribute lead information brochures to healthcare and
community spaces, daycares, pre-1978 homes/apartments.
▪ Training: I would be very interested in completing a more formal training to expand my
knowledgeable on various lead sources, home assessments, pica, and take-home lead.
▪ Secondary prevention: lead screening events and lead test kit distribution in neighborhoods
packed with pre-1978 homes, community education sessions for families impacted by lead.
▪ Evidence-based best practices: decline in number of: lead cases per year, highest lead level
reached during case management, Help Me Grow referrals per year.
I also plan to review the HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) hosted a
webinar series to hopefully help prepare me for future grant applications. If there is future
capacity to increase home assessment opportunities for children with lead levels below 15
mcg/dL I would be interested in continuing that conversation at a later time.
Answer: Just for clarification, this Minnesota Department of Health Healthy Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
program is authorized under Minnesota Statutes 144.9513. The Minnesota Department of
Health Lead and Healthy Homes Program (LHHP) administers this grant. This is different from
the healthy homes grant activities from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) described on the HUD Healthy Homes Program
(https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi) website.
We are unable to comment on specific projects or applications for the Healthy Housing Grants.
We encourage anyone to submit an application for projects they believe fit within the scope
and areas of work described in the Eligible Projects section of the Healthy Housing Grant 2021-
2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) found on the MDH Healthy Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website.
The strongest applications will be those that tie the interventions in most closely with the needs
of the community they serve. We look to the applicants to justify their prioritization.
Question 12:
5QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
I thought I found a listing of previous grantees on the MDH website. I can no longer find that.
Can you help me? I wanted to reach out to someone who has implemented this grant in the
past.
Answer: The previous Healthy Housing Grantees are listed below.
2017–2020 Grantees:
▪ Hennepin County
▪ Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services
▪ Polk-Norman-Mahnomen Community Health Board
▪ St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health
▪ Rice County Community Health Services
▪ Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
▪ Central Minnesota Housing Partnership
▪ Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
▪ Ecolibrium3
2014–2017 Grantees:
▪ Hennepin County
▪ Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services
▪ Polk-Norman-Mahnomen Community Health Board
▪ St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health
▪ Rice County Community Health Services
▪ Southwest Health and Human Services
▪ Sustainable Resources Center
▪ ClearCorps
Question 13:
In regards to this RFP, do you know if funds can directly go to those who are low income to
mitigate health threats? We often see issues with the following:
▪ Landlords needing to abate lead paint
▪ Tenants/homeowners who are low income and face barrier to keeping their home safe from
health threats.
The common theme is cost to abate issues, not so much education (however education is also a
need a times but we are able to do this with current funding).
6QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
Answer: Funds can not directly be provided to landlords, tenants, or homeowners to mitigate
health threats. However, the grantee, or a contractor hired by the grantee, may provide
interventions or complete work in housing to mitigate health threats identified in an
assessment. The grantee shall not exceed $750 per house unless prior approval is obtained
from MDH. Thus, if you choose to focus on lead mitigation, you may want to describe other
sources of funding in your grant application. Any additional supplies to address specific hazards
(that not listed under the Intervention Supplies section of the RFP) are subject to approval by
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). You can include a justification for the expense in your
application. Expenses to address specific hazards that arise over the course of the grant should
be discussed with MDH, and a written justification should be provided.
We encourage anyone to submit an application for projects they believe fit within the scope
and areas of work described in the Eligible Projects section of the Healthy Housing Grant 2021-
2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) found on the MDH Healthy Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website.
Question 14:
Currently we have many outreach, education, advocacy and training programs for our
community, but we do not have expertise in providing outreach, education, and training on
healthy housing subjects and in providing comprehensive healthy housing assessments and
interventions. However we provide an assisted living program in a public housing setting for
many years, so we have learned some degrees of Housing health issues. We will be trained to
implement this project if this fund is available. Can we still apply?
Answer: The Eligible Applicants section on page five of the RFP states: “Eligible applicants are
community health boards, community action agencies (designated and recognized under
Minnesota Statutes Section 256E.31), and nonprofit organizations with expertise in providing
outreach, education, and training on healthy housing subjects and in providing comprehensive
healthy housing assessments and interventions. Nonprofit organizations must have current
501(c)3 status from the IRS.”
If an applicant believes they are qualified, it would be up to the applicant to explain how their
current services and expertise are well-aligned with the requirement that they have “expertise
in providing outreach, education, and training on healthy housing subjects and in providing
comprehensive healthy housing assessments and interventions.” If an organization does not
believe they are eligible to apply for the Healthy Housing Grant, they could also partner with an
eligible organization who is interested in applying.
Question 15:
I reviewed the budget form and found that Match is required. Are there any % of required
matches?
7QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
Answer: The Match Requirement section on page five of the RFP states: “No specific dollar
amounts are required for in-kind or matching funds. However, projects that leverage matching
funds will be given priority.” The budget summary table you mentioned includes a column for
applicants to reflect matching funds if they do leverage matching funds.
Question 16:
Can you tell me if a Federally-recognized Tribal Government, can apply for the Healthy Housing
Grant, appl. Deadline date July 21, 2021.
Answer: Yes, federally-recognized Tribal Governments located in Minnesota are eligible to
apply for the Minnesota Healthy Housing Grants.
Question 17:
Attachment C, Am I interpreting this right in that the more successful applicants would have
scores 0 or a low number?
Answer: For Attachment C: the Due Diligence Review Form, you are interpreting it correctly
that a lower score is better. Initial funding recommendations are made prior to reviewing the
due diligence forms, and that they are used for determining whether additional monitoring or
other safeguards are required based on the organization’s level of financial risk. Government
entities do not need to fill out the due diligence form.
Just a reminder, as stated on the MDH Healthy Housing Grants
(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/healthyhomes/hhgrant.html)
website, “All questions about this RFP must be submitted by email by July 16, 2021 to the
designated MDH contact: Katie Haugen at katie.haugen@state.mn.us."
Question 18:
If our county choose to apply for this grant ourselves (not as our CHB), would I still list us our
CHB? Or could we apply as our County Health and Human Services?
Answer: For this situation, we would suggest that you apply under the heading of your CHB, but
then specify the particular project you aim to do, and that your target population for that
project is just within your county.
Question 19:
Are there any local training opportunities related to Healthy Homes assessments?
Answer: We are currently not aware of any in-person local training related to healthy housing
assessments. However, there are online options available at the National Center for Healthy
Housing: Professional Workforce and Training
(https://nchh.org/resources/workforce/professional-workforce-and-training/) website. It is
possible that there will be related topic-specific training, such as training on mold or asthma, or
8QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
more general healthy housing training offered in-person locally from other sources in the
future.
Question 20:
I am struggling to find anything related to completing home assessment. There is one training
specific to Asthma triggers, but I cannot find anything else. What have other grantees used for
training staff in the past? I am not able to find anything. I had heard that some were trained
with Sustainable Resources Center out of Minneapolis, but I am unable to find any training
there either.
Answer: Yes, Sustainable Resources Center (SRC) has provided a Healthy Housing training in the
past. To our knowledge SRC is not currently offering this training. Applicants are encouraged to
work with partners and propose projects that fit the needs of their community.
Question 21:
Regarding eligible applicants for the Healthy Housing Grant, could our county apply
independently, not as a CHB?
Answer: For this situation, we would suggest that you apply under the heading of your CHB, but
then specify the particular project you aim to do, and that your target population for that
project is just within your county.
Question 22:
Under "Eligible Projects- Technical Assistance" it states: "Training and technical assistance may
be provided to a wide range of interested parties, including the general public, contractors,
public health workers, health care providers, housing professionals, and other as appropriate.
Subject matter differs from community engagement and education in being more technical and
targeted towards professional audiences." I know you cannot comment on specific proposals,
but could fellow MDH Healthy Housing grantees be considered an "other appropriate" party to
provide technical assistance to?
Answer: Yes, fellow MDH Healthy Housing Grantees could be considered an “other appropriate
party” to whom grantees could provide training or technical assistance. However, it would be
up to the other Healthy Housing grantees to decide whether they would want to partake in
training or technical assistance offered by a fellow grantee; MDH would not require it.
Question 23:
Will designated technical subject experts be provided to selected grantees?
Answer: If an applicant chooses to select “training and technical assistance” as one of their
areas of work, they would be responsible for providing the technical subject expertise to their
designated audience(s). MDH will provide grant management support and connect grantees to
subject matter experts as appropriate.
9QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HEALTHY HOUSING GRANT RFP PERIOD
Question 24:
Is there a fillable online Due Diligence form option available?
Answer: Thanks for your email. There is a fillable word document version of the form, but not a
fillable PDF version of the form. The fillable word document version of the Due Diligence
Review Form is provided upon request.
Question 25:
For the background information on our organization, should this be specific to our CHB or to
the County HHS? Including organizational charts, etc.
Answer: We are interested in the structure of the department or program that would be
actually completing the grant activities. For larger organizations such as Community Health
Boards, it may be helpful to provide a brief description of how that department or program that
would be implementing the grant fits into the organization as a whole.
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