For those struggling to make mortgage or rent payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota Department of Housing has a program that can assist those struggling to make ends meet.
The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program provides assistance payments to help prevent eviction, homelessness and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners. Local administrators will review applications from individuals and families requesting assistance, verify eligibility and process payments for eligible expenses on behalf of households.
To qualify for housing assistance, Minnesota households must meet all the following criteria:
Income at or below 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines, with a preference for those at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
Have an eligible expense that incurred after March 1, 2000 that is past due. Housing assistance funds can only be used for eligible expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 30, 2020.
Be unable to make or more payments owed because of the public health emergency due to unemployment, illness or other COVID-19 related issue.
The program covers past due housing expenses such as rent payments, mortgage payments, contract for deed payments, manufactured home park lot rents and payments, utility payments and homeowners association fees.
To apply, visit www.211unitedway.org, call (800) 543-7709 or (651) 291-0211 or text MNRENT or MNHOME to 898-211. The Unite Way’s 211 Resource Helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions about the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.