County emergency assistance and state programs that may help with rent in Minnesota
Minnesota funds more rent help than most states. The money is real — county Emergency Assistance grants, the state FHPAP homeless prevention fund, and extra housing aid for people with disabilities — but almost none of it arrives on its own. A renter has to apply, usually through the county human services office or a regional nonprofit, and church and charity funds may help when a government program says no. The statewide programs are explained first, with county rent assistance pages at the end.
Minnesota statewide programs that may pay back rent, deposits, and moving costs
County Emergency Assistance and Emergency General Assistance
Emergency Assistance is a county-run cash grant for Minnesota families with children, and it may pay back rent, a damage deposit, or moving costs during a housing emergency. A family does not have to be on the Minnesota Family Investment Program to qualify, but the grant is generally limited to once every 12 months, and each county adds its own rules. Adults without children apply instead for Emergency General Assistance, a separate county program with similar limits.
- Both programs now sit under the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and both are applied for online at https://mnbenefits.mn.gov in about 20 minutes or in person at the county human services office.
Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP)
FHPAP is Minnesota's own fund for stopping homelessness before it starts and it has been operating since 1993. Note annual funding varies and this depends on state budgets each year. Minnesota Housing sends the money to counties, tribal nations, and nonprofits in every region, which spend it on back rent, security deposits, utility bills, and case management. Nine out of ten households that received prevention help stayed in their housing.
MSA Housing Assistance for people with disabilities
Minnesota adds extra monthly housing money to the checks of some people with disabilities. A person on Minnesota Supplemental Aid (website: https://mn.gov/dhs/housing-income/housing-services/programs-and-services/msa-housing-assistance/) who pays more than 40 percent of their income for housing can ask their county worker for MSA Housing Assistance, which usually adds hundreds of dollars per month; note the amount resets every July. The state's own guidance says many people who qualify never receive it because they do not ask for it by name. Apply through https://mnbenefits.mn.gov/ or the county office, and see the Minnesota disability benefits guide page for the related programs.
HOME Line tenant hotline
HOME Line runs a free tenant hotline for the entire state, and any Minnesota renter can call with a rent or eviction question at no cost. Attorneys and trained advocates answer at (612) 728-5767 in the metro and (866) 866-3546 from greater Minnesota, with direct lines in Spanish at (612) 255-8870, Somali at (612) 255-8860, and Hmong at (612) 255-7104. The hotline has advised hundreds of thousands of renter households since 1992, and a call is often the fastest way to learn whether an eviction notice is even valid.
Free legal aid offices
Regional legal aid offices may give free representation to income-qualifying tenants in every Minnesota county, and https://www.lawhelpmn.org shows which office covers each county along with plain-language eviction fact sheets. The full list of programs is on the free lawyers for tenants in MN page.
Community action agencies
Community action agencies cover all 87 Minnesota counties, and several are the FHPAP or crisis-fund administrator for their region. Their caseworkers can check a household against rent, deposit, and energy programs in one visit. Find the local office on the Minnesota community action agencies page.
The Salvation Army in Minnesota
The Salvation Army's Northern Division operates worship and service centers across Minnesota, and many keep small emergency funds for rent or a deposit. Money differs by location and by season, so call before going in. Details are on the Minnesota Salvation Army rent payment help page.
Tribal nation housing programs
Minnesota's 11 tribal nations run their own housing departments, and several are FHPAP grantees for their areas. An enrolled member who is behind on rent can ask the nation's housing office about tribal rental assistance in addition to every county program on this page.
Section 8, Metro HRA, and the Bridges program
Housing Choice Vouchers in Minnesota come from dozens of city and county authorities, plus Metro HRA, which covers most suburban Twin Cities communities. Waiting lists open briefly and close fast — current openings across the state are posted on https://www.housinglink.org — and a voucher lowers rent for the long term rather than paying this month's bill. Minnesota also runs the Bridges program, which pays rent help for people with a serious mental illness while they wait for a voucher; ask the local housing authority about it by name. General voucher rules are on the NHPB Section 8 housing page.
State and federal housing contacts
HUD's Minnesota renting page at https://www.hud.gov/states/minnesota/renting lists federal housing programs and local contacts, and free HUD-approved housing counselors are at (800) 569-4287. Minnesota Housing posts its renter programs at https://www.mnhousing.gov, and for other possible government options https://mnbenefits.mn.gov is the single application for the county cash programs above. Dialing 211 reaches a statewide referral line, run through the United Way, for rent, deposit, and utility help near you, as a backup to the direct contacts on this page.
Advice from other Minnesota renters
County rules for Emergency Assistance differ enough that what worked in Ramsey County may be handled another way in Stearns or St. Louis County. Renters use the moderated NHPB forum to compare county decisions, agency wait times, and which local funds said yes. Read the recent posts or add your own question in the moderated Minnesota rent help forum discussion page.
Rent assistance pages for Minnesota counties and cities
The metro counties and several regional centers have their own pages with local charities, county contacts, and application details.
Anoka County
Minneapolis area and Hennepin County
Ramsey County
Rochester and Olmsted County
Stearns and Sherburne County
Stillwater and Washington County
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