Staff photo by Fritz Busch Brown County Human Services Social Services Supervisor Annie Braun describes the annual housing program overview to commissioners Tuesday. Also pictured at Brown County Housing Resource Specialist Mark Bullen, left, and Brown County Human Services Director Anne Broskoff, right.

NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioners learned Tuesday that people in need of housing assistance sometimes don’t get it due to personal beliefs or feelings and how to navigate a complicated process they may be mired in.

Commissioner Dave Borchert said homeless people have been found living in Adams Park near the Cottonwood River, near the County Road 37 and Minnecon Park boat landings and in larger parking lots near the library and county human services building.

“We’ seen a lot of people living in their cars lately. We have funds for people to get short-term shelter. When it’s dangerously cold, we don’t want anyone freezing to death,” said Brown County Housing Resource Specialist Mark Bullen.

Brown County Social Services Supervisor Annie Braun said when there is no long-term solution like staying with family, sometimes people request services or somebody else makes a referral on their behalf and Bullen works with them.

“We also have an intake social worker that can work with people who walk into our office and says they’re living in their car when it’s way too cold out. We do what we can to make sure they are safe,” said Braun. “There is no magic wand. It can be a difficult thing that takes a lot of effort on our part, the individual’s part and family’s part to try to navigate this. Some people may have no ID, no income, no vehicle, no phone and not ready to get help. Most of the time, they eventually get help.”

Borchert said some people have trouble finding housing due to prior convictions.

Bullen said evictions more than three years old can be expunged (erased) in the county where it took place.

“If the eviction is less than three years old, the process can be appealed by doing things like telling a landlord the individual now has stable income,” he said. “Decisions can be contested with a reasonable accommodation request. Generally speaking, landlords will be receptive to that unless an individual has multiple evictions and debts that went to collections.”

Bullen said it may become more difficult if an individual has a felony conviction and other factors like mental health, substance abuse, debt collections and low income.

“Sometimes it can be hard to find an apartment to rent for people with animals,” he said.

Braun said Bullen can identify barriers he can work through or find issues related to a disability or mental health issue that he can coordinate a referral assessment to find out if an individual can qualify for more services like mental health management.

She said Bullen has become a RentWise Facilitator (who leads educational programs designed to help individuals become successful renters).

“Individuals who attend RentWise classes and participate, they can get a RentWise certificate to show they have taken steps to become a successful renter,” said Braun.

Bullen said RentWise classes are held quarterly at NUMAS Haus at Center and Broadway in New Ulm.

“Any community member is welcome to attend the classes,” he said.

Braun said there is an appeal process for someone denied being able to rent public housing.

She said Brown County Housing Resources received 63 referrals for services including individuals and families who are homeless or experiencing housing instability in 2025. A total of $76,867.15 in Statewide Affordable Housing Aid was accessed for 46 individuals.

Outcomes included 24 cases closed with the individual or family being stably housed, 11 cases are active and ongoing, 17 cases are closed due to being unable to locate individuals and their outcome is unknown. Eleven cases are closed due to individual choice to discontinue services before housing instability or homelessness was resolved.

Brown County Lay Board member Vicki Sieve asked Commissioner and New Ulm Police Chief Dave Borchert how closely he works with Brown County Human Services when he comes across people in need of housing assistance.

“Do you refer them? What is your relationship?” said Sieve.

“I think it’s very strong,” said Borchert. “We work together very well. We’ve made referrals. Housing programs are still voluntary. We often encounter people who don’t want housing services at first. Sometimes people have some type of political stance or underlying mental health issues. People sometimes say they are fine, but there is a minus 20 below zero temperature outdoors and they’re reaching out while living in their car. We work closely with Brown County Human Services Housing programs.”