Housing Resources
If you are in need of a safe place to stay because you are fleeing an unsafe environment at home, call the MN Day One Crisis Hotline at 1-866-223-1111 to speak with an advocate who can guide you to a service provider and safe place. If you are in an emergency, call 911.
City of Saint Paul Housing Resources
- The 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program offers rental property owners a 40% tax rate reduction and limited grant assistance for units that remain affordable for a consecutive ten year period. Applications are due Thursday, Dec. 31. Learn more and apply at stpaul.gov/4D.
- Families First Housing Pilot provides eligible families $300/month in rent assistance for three years. Families will receive additional help such as career readiness training, advocacy and mediation help, and housing mentorship. Eligible families must rent in Saint Paul, not receiving other housing assistance, have at least one pre-K to 3rd grader enrolled at a participating school, and meet income/spending limits. Learn more and apply at stpaul.gov/familiesfirst.
- Renter's Rights during COVID-19. The City of Saint Paul wants residents to know their renter's rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has created frequently asked questions to help.
- Executive order on evictions, Stay at Home, & COVID-19 information: Resources for tenants regarding these orders and general advice about tenant rights.
- Rental rehabilitation loan program: Receive assistance to preserve existing affordable rental housing in Saint Paul.
- The Saint Paul Downpayment Assistance Program provides financial assistance for homebuyers at or below 60% Area Median Income (AMI). Qualified homebuyers can receive up to $40,000 for a home downpayment, closing costs, and/or property inspection. The program was developed to protect and preserve naturally occurring affordable housing in neighborhoods vulnerable to displacement and gentrification pressures. The Downpayment Assistance Program is funded by the Housing Trust Fund, with support from Minnesota Housing. Homebuyers must:
- Owner occupy and register as a homestead with Ramsey County throughout the loan term;
- Have net assets at or under $25,000; and,
- Earn at or less than 60% Area Median Income (AMI).
- AMI is based on the number of people in a household
Ramsey County
Get help with rent, mortgage, and utility payments with Ramsey County's Emergency Assistance program. You may be concerned about interruptions in your income and paying your bills. Ramsey County can help with Emergency Assistance (EA) and Emergency General Assistance (EGA).
- Emergency Assistance helps adults with children, and pregnant women.
- Emergency General Assistance helps adults without children.
- EA and EGA help with shelter, such as past due rent, a damage deposit, or to stop foreclosure. EA and EGA also help pay for utilities, when there is threat of disconnection. Utilities include electricity, heat, and water.
- In general, if you have not had EA/EGA help in the last 12 months, and you do not have enough resources to resolve your crisis, you may be eligible. You must show you have enough income to pay bills moving forward.If you ARE receiving public assistance (SNAP, healthcare, or cash assistance through Ramsey County), call your caseworker or 651-266-4444 for an application. There is a short application for clients with active cases.
- If you ARE NOT not receiving public assistance, you can apply for EA/EGA online at applymn.dhs.mn.gov.
- For questions about eligibility or application status, call the EA/EGA hotline at 651-266-4884.
Find more information about Ramsey County's housing services and support.
Are you a landlord in Ramsey County and have tenants who have been unable to make rent payments as a result of COVID-19? The Ramsey County Landlord Assistance program provides one-time grants to landlords for up to $20,000 per rental unit for tenants' missed rent payments and/or unpaid fees from March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020 due to COVID-19. Landlords with properties in Ramsey County can request access to the online application (for fastest processing time) or mailed paper application by emailing landlord.assistance@ramseycounty.us. Learn more at ramseycounty.us/landlordassistance.
State of Minnesota
The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program is now accepting applications. The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program has officially launched, making $100 million available to help prevent eviction, prevent homelessness, and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners. The program is designed to cover expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities or other housing-related expenses that were incurred after March 1, 2020 and are past due.
Minnesotans interested in applying and learning more about the program can begin the application process by calling Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 211 Resource Helpline (Toll Free: 1.800.543.7709; Local: 651.291.0211), visiting 211unitedway.org online, or texting “MNRENT” or “MNHOME” to 898-211.) The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions about the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Community Resources
- Virtual Home Energy Squad. Whether you are at home working, learning, or just staying safe, the additional time spent inside can mean higher energy bills. The Home Energy Squad, provided by CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy, is here to help with a new free service: the Virtual HES Visit. We’ll take customers on a home walk-through via video chat, and together we'll help find ways to reduce energy bills while keeping indoor air clean and healthy. Learn more about the Virtual HES Visit. Sign up online or call 651-328-6220.
- American Indian Family Center - Thinica Owichakiyapi Thipi: 651-793-3803
- Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES): 612-746-3550
- Face to Face - Youth Homelessness Project: 651-772-9644
- Lutheran Social Services - StreetWorks Collaborative: 651-354-3345
- Minnesota Community Care: 651-266-1290
- Neighborhood House: 651-793-7340
- YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities:763-493-3052