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Renter's Resources

RentHelpMN - Targeted Assistance
RentHelpMN - Targeted Assistance is an addition to Minnesota Housing's Housing Stability Services (HSS) program. It is an emergency rental assistance program for Minnesota renters receiving Housing Stability Services (HSS) from designated HSS Providers and who would benefit from direct financial support to cover rent arrears, future rent, utilities, and other rental housing expenses due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic. RentHelpMN (mnhousing.gov).
This is a referral-based system, referred through 18 HSS partners contracted by Minnesota Housing. (Please note: the Housing Stability Services program is NOT the same HSS program as the DHS Housing Stabilization Services).
The funds may be used for rent, utilities, and other rental housing costs (both in arrears and future rent) within RentHelpMN – Targeted Assistance Program limits. (Homeowners are not eligible for RentHelpMN – Targeted Assistance funds).

Note: This program is by referral only; households cannot apply directly. There is no public-facing system, only through the HSS partner provider referrals to the centralized processing agent, Witt O'Brien (WOB) navigators. (The general RentHelpMN program remains closed and is not accepting applications. It closed on January 28, 2022, and will not reopen).


USDA Rural Development Multi-Family Rental Properties
This website lists USDA RD-funded properties (Note: this was last updated in 2015 and does not show vacancies). MFH Rentals (USDA RD) County Selections

HUD Resource Locator
This website shows HUD sites geographically. Zoom in to the area you are interested in to see the locations of sites. This site does not show vacancies. HUD Map of all subsidized housing, moderate-income housing, and public housing authorities
There is also a user guide available: User Manual (hud.gov).

Disability HUB MN
Disability Hub MN - Home

Stable Homes Stable Schools Program Expands for Housing Minneapolis Public Schools Students
Beginning in the fall, about 350 families a year will be served by the Minneapolis Stable Homes Stable Schools Housing Stability Fund. The fund provides emergency assistance to families at risk of losing their homes. It will be offered to all 43 Minneapolis Public School district elementary schools. 

Stable Homes Stable Schools offers two types of rental assistance:


Housing Benefits 101 Places - A Listing of Housing with Services
HB101 Places helps you find housing vacancies that have services or that make it easy to bring services in. It currently includes Adult Foster Care/CRS, Board and Lodge, Assisted Living, and site-based Supportive Housing programs throughout Minnesota. All vacancies are authorized to accept Housing Support (GRH) payments. Some programs allow people to pay privately if they're not eligible for Housing Support or have another way to pay for their housing costs. Use filters to find places that meet your needs. When you find a place that interests you, contact them. HB101 Minnesota - HB101 Places.

  • The Housing Benefits 101 website has many valuable resources. Be sure to check out the website HB101 Minnesota.


HousingLink - Listings for Affordable Rental Vacancies and Waiting-list Openings
Check on HousingLink for listings and other resources. Search for affordable rental housing vacancies and waiting list openings anywhere in Minnesota. You can filter by location, specific amenities, bedroom size, or subsidy program.

Hope House of St. Croix Valley
Hope House is a 245D licensed adult foster care facility in historic Stillwater, MN. The home is a blend of both shared communal and private spaces. It is located in a beautifully restored Victorian home designed with the residents in mind, providing compassionate care to residents. Eligibility requirements:

  • Anyone experiencing life-changing health challenges, regardless of county of residency.

  • Must qualify for Minnesota’s Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) waiver.

See their website, hopehousescv.org, or contact Corhea Givens at 651-351-0907 for more information.

Agate Housing and Services Rainbow Rapid ReHousing
Currently accepting clients for households with at least one adult and one child under 18, experiencing homelessness, and with someone in the home who identifies as LGBTQ+. Agate’s Rainbow Rapid ReHousing for LGBTQ+ families experiencing homelessness provides assistance and services (including six months of rental assistance based on income, landlord support, housing search assistance, LGBTQ+ resources assistance, and help with application fees). A referral from Coordinated Entry is not required. Contact Zora at zora.robinson@agatemn.org or by phone at 612-695-4717.

St. Paul PHA Multifamily Housing Waiting List
The St. Paul Public Housing Agency waitlist for Multifamily Housing with 0/1, 2, 3, 4, and 5-bedroom apartments remains open. The Multifamily Housing program provides apartments with reduced rent (based on income) to low-income households. Applications will be sorted by the date and time received. Applications are available online 24 hours a day: www.stpha.org. 


South Central MN Multi-County HRA Section 8 Voucher Waitlist is Open
South Central MN Multi-County HRA has Section 8 Rental Assistance Vouchers available for individuals and families that live, work, or attend school in the HRA service area of Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca and Watonwan counties. Individuals and families currently in shelters and/or are couch hopping are encouraged to apply. All applications must be submitted online (except for reasonable accommodations), and information is at South Central Minnesota Multi-County HRA (scmmchra.org).

Fargo, North Dakota - Housing Choice Voucher Wait List Opening
Fargo Housing Choice Voucher Waitlist, also known as Section 8, opened on 12/15/2022. The waitlist will remain open until further notice. For more information, visit the Wait List Announcement (mcusercontent.com).

Veteran Temporary Emergency Housing Voucher Program (VTEMP)
MN Department Veteran Affairs (MDVA) reimbursement program is available to all Community Service Providers working with veterans and former service members and their households actively experiencing homelessness in your community. The VTEMP Program is administered statewide (veterans eligible regardless of discharge or deployment status).

The VTEMP program provides retroactive reimbursements to community service providers who agree to fund temporary non-congregate housing units, such as hotel rooms, to eligible Veterans or former service members and their households. For more information or questions, email allison.kier@state.mn.us and visit the Department of Veterans Affairs (mn.gov).

Afghan Housing Stability Program
This is a new housing stability program targeted at newly arrived (since summer 2021) Afghans. The program can serve anyone living in the 7-county Metro. The Afghan Housing Stability Program (AHSP) is a two-year program federally funded through ORR (via the Afghan Supplemental Appropriations Act), a congressional allocation specific to Afghan arrivals. CAPI USA is the contracted service provider for the AHSP (CAPI: Feeding, Employing, Training Refugees (capiusa.org). For more information or referrals, contact program manager Razia Hashemi, CAPI USA, razia.hashemi@capiusa.org, or 612-721-0122. 

Community Sharing Fund (CSF)
Up to $1,000 for rent, deposits, and mortgages, but $750 for utilities and other requests. Nonprofit organizations assisting residents in Dakota, Ramsey, or Washington counties can apply for a grant from the Community Sharing Fund through their online grant portal. ONLY PROFESSIONALS CAN APPLY ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES. Community Sharing Fund Grant | Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (spmcf.org). For Community Sharing Fund (CSF) to assist with a back utility bill, they need to have received a disconnection notice. If the family DID receive a disconnection notice, they have to apply for Emergency assistance first to see if they are eligible for their assistance before applying to CSF.

Mounds View School District Community – Community Support Center
Mounds View School District Community has help with rent and deposits. CSC works with New Brighton, Mounds View, North Oaks, Shoreview, or Arden Hills residents to prevent homelessness, solve financial crises, and provide long-term relationships. Call Karen Meyer at 651-387-8050.

Neighborhood House, St. Paul
Neighborhood House has funds available to assist those in Ramsey County with rent, deposits, and utilities. (They are working through a backlog. If working with Neighborhood House, other providers should know that they primarily use FHPAP and CSF funds). They can still help individuals experiencing homelessness with hotel/motel stays (up to 7 nights, and the situation must be resolvable) and bus or fuel cards. All calls for assistance should go through our Service Connect # 651-789-3602. Housing Stability - Neighborhood House.

New Veterans Homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston
MN Department of Veterans Affairs is building three new State Veterans Homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston communities. Construction began in the fall of 2021; they anticipate opening all three locations in the summer of 2023. Resident admission applications are being accepted. Click here for answers to the questions they've heard the most during community visits. Future Homes / Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs - State of Minnesota (mn.gov).

Hennepin County
Hennepin County residents: Emergency rent assistance | Hennepin County

NorthPoint Housing Support
NorthPoint helps families with barriers to finding or securing stable housing. Our team stands ready to help find emergency housing support for the community. (Families with children living in zip codes 55411 or 55412 are at risk for eviction or unstable housing). For housing assistance, please get in touch with our Housing Hotline at 612-767-9198 or email housing@npimn.org. NorthPlace Housing Supports | Northpoint Health and Wellness

Minneapolis Stable Homes Stable Schools 
This program assists families with children in 18 elementary schools through school social workers. For more information about Stable Homes Stable Schools, visit Stable Homes Stable Schools – Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (mphaonline.org).

Solid Ground – Ramsey or Washington County 
The Solid Ground ESG Homework Starts with Home grant can help find re-housing assistance or provide rent assistance (up to 2 months of rent for folks in Ramsey or Washington County). For families needing emergency support - they provide rehousing aid to families who are doubled up and homeless and pay up to 12 months for the family. At risk of homelessness (living with family or friends, currently in a hotel/motel, fleeing domestic violence, etc.).

HousingLink – Housing Authority Waiting List Openings 
Sign up to receive notices of open waiting lists for the Twin Cities Area Housing Authorities (for Public Housing and Section 8 Vouchers): HousingLink - Twin Cities Housing Authority Waiting List Openings. Currently listed open waiting lists:

Bloomington HRA 
Rental Homes for Future Home Buyers

Dakota CDA
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
Senior Housing
Workforce Housing Apartments (Gateway Place, West St. Paul)

Minneapolis PHA
Public Housing: Disabled
Public Housing: Near Elderly (Age 50-61)
Public Housing: Senior (Age 62+)

South St. Paul HRA
Public Housing: Seniors

St Paul PHA
Multifamily 0 - 5 BR

Duluth HRA Section 8 Waiting List
Provides rental assistance in the city of Duluth or Southern St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties: Section 8 Rental Assistance | Duluth Housing

Minnesota HRA and PHA List
Note: Other Housing Authorities or Public Housing Agencies around the state may have open waiting lists or occasionally open their waiting list. Some have Public Housing buildings, some have Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs, and some have both.



Homeowner Resources

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Tips to Avoid Predatory Lending!!

deedstreetcapital.com/avoiding-predatory-lending/

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FHA Launches New Resources to Remove Language Barriers for Borrowers 
The Federal Housing Administration recently launched a new Language Access Resources page, which includes over thirty single-family mortgage documents and related resources used in the origination and servicing of FHA-insured mortgages. These documents are now available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

HomeHelpMN - No longer accepting applications
HomeHelpMN stopped accepting new applications on July 7, 2023, as assistance funds are running low. 

Those who applied by July 7 should have received confirmation that the application was placed on the waitlist. When you log in to your application, your application status will say “Waitlisted.” Waitlisted applications will be reviewed subject to available funding. You will be notified if your application is processed. If you have questions about HomeHelpMN, call 800-388-3226. 

Pathways to Success
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is excited to embark on a new partnership with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) and Twin Cities R!SE. Dubbed Pathways to Success, the partnership will provide an additional way to increase homeownership rates and close the racial homeownership gap in Minnesota. Learn more at Habitat's New Partnership to Provide Pathways to Success (tchabitat.org).


Saint Paul Rondo Inheritance Fund 
The Inheritance Fund is an innovative and people-centered program that affords low-income families from Saint Paul’s historic Rondo Neighborhood the opportunity to rebuild wealth through homeownership. Learn more at Inheritance Fund | Saint Paul Minnesota (stpaul.gov).

Habitat for Humanity Go-To Guide for First-Time Homebuyers
Download the Complete Guide to Becoming a First-Time Homebuyer (tchabitat.org)

Minneapolis Down Payment Assistance
The City of Minneapolis offers a down payment assistance program with up to $10,000 for homebuyers purchasing in the City of Minneapolis. The loan has 0% interest and no payments for 30 years. Learn about eligibility for city homebuyer assistance on the city website.

See the Minneapolis Homes website for other city programs for homeowners and developers: Minneapolis Homes - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov).

Washington County Crisis Assistance Relief for Homeownership Program (CARH) 
Washington County Offers COVID-19 Assistance Relief for Homeowners (caprw.org).

Ramsey County’s FirstHome
The FirstHome homebuyer assistance program will now assist both low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers and first-generation homebuyers looking to call suburban Ramsey County home. Ramsey County expands guidelines for homebuyer assistance program | Ramsey County.
Note: According to a recent KSTP report on first-generation homebuyer programs, there are several local communities with similar initiatives in place, including Edina, Woodbury, St. Louis Park, and Ramsey County.

Minnesota Homeownership Center 
Homeowner resources: Homeowners - HOCMN

Guide To Foreclosure Prevention (hocmn.org)
Homeowners who need immediate assistance should contact your loan servicer or a foreclosure prevention counselor here. Foreclosure counseling is available for Minnesota homeowners free of charge.

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9/25/2023 - Thank you Kim Lieberman for these wonderful resources!!

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