Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center awarded $100,000 grant to expand housing programming

Mar. 5—The Winona Community Foundation awarded Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center a $100,000 Impact Grant on Friday to help the organization expand its housing programming.

The grant will allow the organization to help those living with mental health conditions and potentially facing homeless to live in community-based, scattered site units in Winona.

Already, nine scattered site units are available, but the organization is planning for five to 10 more units.

Additionally, the organization already has a supportive housing facility and group residential housing properties. The scattered site units will allow for more independent living for clients, while they also receive support from staff.

While the programming focuses on adults, the impact has a ripple effect.

"The impact of this program is very far reaching," said Erik Sievers, Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center executive director.

He said that if someone is facing untreated mental health conditions and is homeless, their family members can be impacted, along with businesses, schools and other service organizations in the community.

"It really impacts the entire community," Sievers said.

To make the programming possible, the organization is connecting with multiple partners, including the Hope for Homes Coalition and landlords in the community.

The programming is sustainable long term, too, as the organization has other potential funding options like billing and grants in the future.

Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center was chosen to receive the grant, according to the foundation, because of the organization's goal to provide more mental health support and housing. Both of these were identified as two of the community's most pressing needs in a survey.

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