Simplified: North Star Solutions, a South Dakota-based consulting firm, is developing a comprehensive, three-year strategic plan to address homelessness. But so far they've not publicly disclosed who's paying for it, who's in charge of it or what timeline they're operating under.

Why it matters

  • The city is a key partner in putting this plan together, Homelessness Coordinator Michelle Treasure told the City Council on Tuesday afternoon. Other partners include County Human Services Director Kari Benz, and Annie Olson with Augustana Research.
  • However, because the plan is in its "very, very infant" stages, as Treasure put it, there's still a lot unknown in terms of who will ultimately lead the effort to implement any recommendations.
  • It's also unclear if the anonymous donor is affiliated with North Star Solutions. Councilor Miranda Basye asked if the donor was funding the strategic plan or executing it. Treasure responded, "I guess you could see it that way."
    • She had previously said the plan is funded through a private donation that will be paid directly to North Star. She also noted both the donor and North Star "have been a part of the process from the beginning."
"We’re looking at a really well-rounded comprehensive plan with objectives with all of the partnerships at the table, and then a comprehensive budget that aligns with those objectives," Treasure said of the overall strategic plan.

Tell me more

Treasure said part of the impetus for the plan was donor fatigue in the homelessness support services space. She added that the plan aims to look at "streamlining services."

"Looking at all of the expenses that everyone pours into staffing and volunteers and feeding our community – how can we begin to look at streamlining some of that so we can continue to sustain what we need for this population?" Treasure said.

What happens next?

Certainly, there's more reporting to be done and more questions to ask about this.

There also isn't a recent local example of a privately funded and privately executed plan aimed at influencing public policy, which opens additional questions about transparency and the level of public input that will be involved in the process.

As of now, we also don't know the timeline North Star Solutions has in mind for compiling this plan or anything about their process.