Our Work

Building the Capacity of the Homeless Response Sector

We know what works, and we’re on a mission to make homelessness brief, rare, and non-reoccurring by working directly with the community to strengthen our homeless response system.

Any Path Home’s Objectives

Our work is grounded in the belief that every path to housing matters, and that progress requires shared ownership, transparency, and sustained collaboration. Any Path Home exists to:

Create (and maintain) a real-time list of people experiencing homelessness

Build an efficient homeless response system that addresses gaps and barriers to housing

Obtain the resources and housing necessary to assist those individuals and support the response system

Connect the resources to those individuals through case management and system efficiencies

Our Process

Enhancing the Response System

Entry

The first time someone enters the homeless response system can be traumatic. Entry into the system, most often via shelters, should be a safe, welcome experience.

Next steps:

  • Create and/or share a common intake form shared by all agencies

  • Invest in a scanner system to maintain an experience where the person is centered over the information we need from them

  • Shared data entry position for agencies with limited staff capacity to enter the data into the system

  • Auto exit/batch functions integrated

Shelter/Basic Needs

Shelters provide a space to ensure people's basic needs are met, including food, clothing, and physical safety. Shelters should also provide connections to case management and community resources.

Next steps:

  • Piloting a reservation app for overnight shelter to reduce the need for line-ups and the trauma of being unsure of a basic need

  • Need for additional day and overnight shelter space and staff capacity

Assessment

Through assessments, service agencies can obtain more detailed information about specific housing barriers. That information also opens pathways to additional community services as needed.

Next steps:

  • Training on unified housing problem-solving

  • Database function to document housing barriers, specific needs, and desires for housing options

  • Shared position for data management

Case Management

One-on-one assistance through case management enables the development of individualized housing plans that address the barriers identified during the assessment process.

Next steps:

  • A healthy by-name list

  • Case conferencing launch

Housing

Housing assistance should exist from application through move-in and prioritize finding a housing unit that fits a person’s preferences and unique needs. An often-overlooked part of this process is engaging property owners.

Next steps:

  • Housing unit inventory list

  • Housing program inventory list

  • Needs: Address preserving low-barrier units

  • Needs: Real-time inventory data

  • Needs: Property owner/management engagement

Building Community

People should not have to choose between housing and community. Building social capital after someone is housed, identifying other holistic needs, and facilitating pathways to creating authentic community help ensure housing sustainability.

Next steps:

  • Integrating community partnerships 

  • Peer support model for eviction prevention and successful housing experience

Prevention

The best way to end homelessness is by preventing it in the first place. To successfully prevent homelessness, a community should maximize the use of rental assistance funding and divert people from the homeless system through programs such as eviction prevention assistance or short-term rental assistance programs.

Next steps:

  • Integrating peer supports to help with the housing transition and ensure long-term success

  • Documenting all local prevention resources

Collective Impact

Any Path Home operates using a collective impact model. Partners commit to the following five conditions:

  • Shared Purpose

    All partners align to a common purpose: Everyone in Olmsted County has a home. This shared purpose guides decision-making, resource allocation, and system design.

  • Aligned Approach

    Partners contribute actions and activities that are equitable and aligned to the shared purpose. Each organization maintains its own mission and programs while intentionally coordinating efforts to strengthen the overall system response.

  • Shared Data and Measurement

    Partners participate in shared data practices to inform decision-making and track progress. It allows the collective to identify gaps, adjust strategies, and improve outcomes over time.

  • Continuous Communication

    Regular, transparent communication supports trust, alignment, and learning across partners. Communication occurs through structured meetings, workgroups, and community updates to ensure consistent understanding of priorities, progress, and challenges.

  • Backbone Support

    Olmsted County serves as the operational support organization for Any Path Home. This includes:

    - Providing coordination and administrative support

    - Supporting data infrastructure and systems alignment

    - Facilitating communication across partners

    - Advancing shared strategies and accountability