The Circle of Excellence awards recognize organizations that have partnered with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to do an exemplary job of providing food, shelter and other assistance to Minnesotans in need. Special events were planned to honor each of the winners. This year’s honorees include groups that serve people with disabilities. They are:

Clare Housing, Minneapolis provides supportive housing to some of the community’s most marginalized individuals – primarily people of color, living in poverty and struggling not only with HIV, but also mental illness, chemical dependency and criminal backgrounds.

Horizon Homes, Mankato has expanded its capacity to serve children and adults in need of mental and chemical health care. Services include a new South Central Crisis Center and a partnership with law enforcement, the Yellow Line Project, that provides access to a Mobile Crisis Team.

 “These organizations go above and beyond each and every day to improve the lives of Minnesotans,” said DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We are grateful to them for leading the way through their creativity, innovation, skill and commitment to the people we serve.”

This is the eighth year of the Circle of Excellence Awards. Winners were selected based on how well they met the following award criteria. Winners must support the DHS mission to help people meet their basic needs so they can live in dignity and achieve their highest potential and contribute to current DHS goals and priority projects.

Winners also have to demonstrate best practices, achieve results that impact clients and partner with others in the human services system.