Our Work

Building the Capacity of the Homeless Response System

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 a coordinated, equitable response to homelessness in Olmsted County

Align systems, resources, and strategies toward our shared purpose

Improve outcomes by sharing data and ensuring accountability

Strengthen collaboration across housing, shelter, outreach, and supportive services

Our Process

Enhancing a Response System that Builds Upon Itself

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.

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.

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.

Assessment

Through assessments, service agencies can obtain more detailed information about specific housing barriers. This information connects directly to the shared By Name List and allows for more effective case conferencing. That information also opens pathways to additional community services as needed.

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.

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.

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.

Collective Impact

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

    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

  • Backbone Support: City of Rochester

    The City of Rochester serves as the communication support organization for Any Path Home. This includes:

    - Engaging in community relations and communication about Any Path Home

    - Developing and implementing communication strategies around progress

    - Advancing shared strategies and accountability frameworks