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Our Priorities for a County That Works
Public Safety
Hennepin County plays a central role in public safety, from 911 dispatch and the jail to emergency management, probation, and rehabilitation. My plan uses the county’s own tools to prevent harm, respond effectively, and build trust across every community.
1. Strengthen Countywide Emergency Response
- Improve staffing and coordination in 911 dispatch
- Expand crisis response teams so residents get faster, safer help during mental‑health crises, emergencies, and peak‑demand periods
- Ensure county systems work together instead of leaving families waiting
2. Modernize the Sheriff’s Office and Jail
- Expand mental‑health treatment, detox services, and re‑entry support inside the jail
- Prioritize training and equipment that help deputies respond effectively
- Reduce unnecessary incarceration while improving safety for staff and residents
3. Expand Community Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Strengthen probation, Sentencing to Service, electronic home monitoring, and youth diversion
- Focus on programs that reduce re‑offense and keep people connected to work, family, and stability
- Invest in approaches that hold people accountable while supporting long‑term success
4. Lead Community Safety, Don’t Outsource It
- Support social workers, community engagement teams, and programs that build trust
- Ensure the county leads long‑term safety strategies instead of relying on nonprofits to fill critical gaps
- Build a coordinated, county‑driven approach that prevents harm before it happens
County Service Reliability
Hennepin County’s Human Services and Public Health departments are the backbone of family stability — providing food assistance, child and family services, disability supports, behavioral health care, senior services, and core stabilization programs. When these systems work well, residents stay housed, healthy, and connected. When they don’t, families fall into crisis.
Today, too many residents experience long waits, confusing processes, and inconsistent communication. My position is clear: the county must operate as a strong public institution, accessible, responsive, and accountable.
1. Build a Unified Access System
Create a single, modern “front door” for all county services.
A unified platform would integrate applications, document uploads, case status, and communication in one mobile‑friendly system. Residents shouldn’t have to navigate multiple portals, phone numbers, or offices to get basic help.
Impact: Faster access, fewer errors, and a clearer experience for families and frontline staff.
2. Reduce Caseloads & Restore Frontline Capacity
Rebuild the workforce that residents rely on — case managers, social workers, housing navigators, and support staff. Lower caseloads mean residents can reach someone when they need help, and staff can provide timely, accurate follow‑up.
Impact: Shorter wait times, better outcomes, and fewer people slipping through the cracks.
3. Strengthen County‑Run Service Hubs
Expand and fully staff county‑operated service centers so residents can get in‑person help without being bounced between nonprofits. Cities and community partners have stepped in because the county hasn’t been present enough. Josh’s position is that the county must lead.
Staff hubs with benefits workers, behavioral health professionals, housing navigators, and public health resources.
Impact: A reliable, county‑led network of support that meets residents where they are.
4. Expand Behavioral Health & Public Health Supports
Grow the county’s behavioral health system — from assessment and stabilization to outpatient care and culturally specific services. Public Health must remain a core pillar, including community clinics, home visiting, chronic disease prevention, and overdose response.
Impact: Earlier intervention, fewer crises, and reduced pressure on emergency rooms, jails, and shelters.
Housing and Homelessness
Hennepin County is the central public institution responsible for emergency shelter, homelessness coordination, housing stabilization, and the programs that keep residents housed. Cities cannot solve unsheltered homelessness alone; the county must lead with the scale, staffing, and systems required to reduce street homelessness and move people into stable housing.
1. Lead a County‑Run Response to Unsheltered Homelessness
- Take full responsibility for outreach, assessments, and shelter placement instead of leaving cities to manage encampments on their own
- Expand county‑led outreach teams with housing navigation and behavioral‑health support
- Ensure every encampment response includes a direct county presence focused on solutions, not just enforcement
2. Deliver Faster Emergency Assistance & Shelter Access
- Reduce wait times for emergency assistance and expand same‑day help for families and individuals in crisis
- Ensure people sleeping outside can rapidly enter shelter or temporary housing without unnecessary delays
- Build a system where residents get timely, predictable support when they need it most
3. Build More County-Controlled Shelter & Housing Options
- Increase county‑owned or county‑operated shelter beds, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing
- Reduce dependence on nonprofit providers operating on unstable grants
- Create a durable, county‑run homelessness infrastructure that can scale with community needs
4. Strengthen the Full Housing Continuum. From Prevention to Permanence.
- Expand eviction prevention, rental assistance, housing navigation, and supportive housing services
- Ensure residents can move from street to shelter to stable housing without gaps in care
- Coordinate housing, behavioral‑health, and economic supports so people exiting homelessness can stay housed long‑term
County Transit
Hennepin County controls major roads, intersections, sidewalks, bikeways, and the placement of county buildings — all of which determine how easily residents can reach work, school, clinics, and county services. While Metro Transit runs buses and trains, the county’s transportation and facility decisions shape whether mobility is safe, affordable, and realistic for everyone.
1. Locate County Services Where People Can Reach Them
Ensure service centers, clinics, and county offices are placed near high-frequency transit lines and walkable corridors so residents don’t need to drive or take multiple buses to access basic support.
2. Safer County Roads for Walking, Biking & Transit
Use county authority to improve lighting, crosswalks, sidewalks, and bike connections along major corridors like Lake Street, Lyndale, and Franklin — reducing crashes and improving safety for seniors, families, and transit riders.
3. Transit-Informed Housing & Shelter Decisions
Require every major housing, shelter, or service investment to consider how residents will actually reach it. Access to transportation should be an essential part of any plan aimed at stability, recovery, or re-entry.
4. Support for Seniors & Residents With Disabilities
Strengthen mobility assistance, paratransit coordination, and pedestrian improvements so older adults and residents with disabilities can travel safely, maintain independence, and access county services without barriers.
Green Jobs, Clean Energy & Climate Resilience
Hennepin County oversees waste reduction, environmental health, facility operations, and regional climate planning. The county can drive real change by investing in clean energy, modernizing infrastructure, and supporting jobs that prepare residents for a clean-energy economy.
1. Green Workforce Pathways for District 3 Residents
Partner with unions, trades, and community colleges to create job training pipelines in solar installation, building retrofits, environmental restoration, and electric vehicle infrastructure — ensuring working families access the careers of the future.
2. Clean Energy Investments in County Facilities
Expand solar installations, electrify the county vehicle fleet, and upgrade HVAC and energy systems in county buildings to reduce emissions, cut costs long-term, and model what responsible public-sector climate action looks like.
3. Strong Environmental Health Protections
Strengthen air quality monitoring, environmental inspections, and community health protections — especially in neighborhoods historically exposed to higher levels of pollution or industrial activity.
4. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
Invest in stormwater upgrades, tree canopy expansion, flood prevention, and cooling strategies that protect residents from extreme heat, heavy rain, and climate-driven weather events.
Economic Mobility & Opportunity
Hennepin County’s role in economic mobility includes workforce development, childcare assistance, family stabilization services, small business support, and transportation access. Josh believes the county must build pathways that help residents achieve long-term stability — not temporary survival.
1. Workforce & Job Training That Leads to Real Careers
Expand county-supported job programs, youth employment opportunities, and re-entry employment partnerships so residents can build long-term stability and move into higher-wage careers.
2. Support Small Businesses & Local Corridors
Simplify access to county contracts, technical support, and small business resources — especially for entrepreneurs of color, immigrant-owned businesses, and neighborhood-based shops that keep District 3 vibrant.
3. Childcare & Family Stabilization
Streamline childcare assistance, early childhood services, and family stabilization programs so parents can work, finish school, and support their families without being blocked by bureaucratic delays.
4. Invest in Neighborhood Opportunity
Support community-led development projects, public space improvements, and local corridors that strengthen neighborhoods, create jobs, and keep economic activity rooted in District 3 communities.