Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority receives DHS Circle of Excellence Award

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has selected the Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (OCHRA) as one of the recipients of its Circle of Excellence awards. The Circle of Excellence award recognizes organizations that have partnered with DHS and done an exemplary job of providing food, shelter, and other assistance to Minnesotans in need.

The OCHRA was selected for developing contingency plans and partnerships to address unsheltered homelessness when the pandemic forced the closure of shelters in Olmsted County. The county’s Housing Stability Team partnered with Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota and the City of Rochester's library staff to open a day center and opened a nighttime shelter at the Mayo Civic Center. Among other things, their efforts led to housing more than 120 homeless individuals and the creation of 27 units of transitional housing.   

The OCHRA was one of six organizations in the state that received the award.

“These six organizations have provided exceptional service to Minnesotans in need of assistance, which is especially remarkable during this extraordinarily difficult year,” said Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “They stand out not just for clearly meeting the Circle of Excellence Award criteria, but for their unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in communities across our state.”

View the full news release from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.