Minnesota HOME Line tenant legal assistance.
The HOME Line advice service in Minnesota provides free legal advice to people who rent their home or apartment. It is a hotline service in which lawyers from across the state will offer assistance on any number of housing issues, with a focus on stopping evictions and foreclosures. All of the advice is offered in multiple languages as well, including Spanish and Afka-Soomaaliga.
There are multiple ways to contact an attorney as part of HOME Line. Tenants can dial the service at the phone number below, or they can submit questions online. The organization that offers this service will also provide anyone that is interested with a FAQ type guide in which questions on landlord and tenant obligations will be covered.
Resources available from HOME Line
The service is provided by a team of lawyers, paralegals, and volunteers that are available both from the hotline. They can also use other means of communication to provide assistance to clients, such as E-mail or regular postal mail.
There are around 1000 tenants a month that are assisted by the organization. While they do provide information for free, for those with more difficult cases or that may prefer more comprehensive service, there is also a fee service available. No matter what is requested though, the team at HOME Line will provide some form of assistance to renters that are seeking help with an eviction notice.
Another focus is on assisting those individuals that are living in either unsafe housing or that need repairs made to their home or apartment. Unfortunately some landlords push back on doing some of this work, but tenants do have rights and access to support. Having the support of an attorney can often make a difference in repairs being done on time.
Receive free legal advice on dealing with some or all of the following repairs. The line can provide assistance with Water Loss, floods, Loss of Heating or Utilities, emergency repairs, or advice on how to deal with bed bugs and other insect infestations. Every Minnesota family is entitled to live in some form of housing that is safe.
HOME Line problem-solving as well as tenant/landlord dispute service is another option from the agency. This will deal with more financial matters, such as when a landlord will not repay a Security Deposit. Or if there is a dispute over rent that was or wasn't paid, then that can be addressed as well.
As paid of their paid consultation services, the team will prepare clients for court, either district, housing or Conciliation Court. There is also help in completing forms, paperwork, and other support given. Disputes between roommates will also be handled by the team.
Attorneys will offer explanations of applicable state of Minnesota laws for tenants. They will offer procedures for legal options available to those who rent a property. Based on the assessment, some other steps will be taken such as the following.
The legal team will provide fact sheets, form letters, excerpts from statutes, or other written information to the caller. If the representatives at HOME Line can't assist, then then they will give out referrals to other resources. This may include local housing inspectors in Minnesota or sources of emergency financial assistance to make a rent payment.
As noted, the hotline and information is free. There are no restrictions on income, age, background, or race. Or if someone needs more comprehensive support, the attorneys will provide limited paid consultations to those families facing an eviction. If there are any costs, the fees will be agreed upon in advance. This will also be done in writing so that all parties know exactly what the cost is and what is being paid for.
The phone number is (866) 866-3546. Spanish speakers can call HOME Line at 612-255-8870, and Somali speakers also have a dedicated number of 612-255-8860. Anyone facing an eviction or that is dealing with any other problems associated with renting can call for help.
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