Housing programs and services

These grants provide funding to counties and Tribal Nations to integrate housing into local health and human services systems.

This program provides short-term housing assistance to people with a serious mental illness who are receiving inpatient or residential mental health care or substance use disorder treatment for 90 days or less. Learn more at arcminnesota.org.

Emergency Services Program (ESP) is a grant program that funds emergency homeless shelters and street outreach programs to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Funds can support staffing, operations, and service expenses associated with operating an overnight or daytime shelter, and/or street outreach program. 

The program funds rapid rehousing, and the operating and support service costs of shelter programs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development allocates these funds to the department, which awards funds to local agencies through a competitive application process on a biennial basis.

Housing Access Services (HAS) is a grant program that helps individuals with disabilities or disabling conditions move into their own homes in the least restrictive setting. It provides financial assistance for application fees, deposits, furnishings, and household items, along with personalized support to find and access housing of choice.

Housing with Supports for Adults with Serious Mental Illness (HSASMI) provides supportive services for adults with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder, who are homeless or exiting institutions, and who have complex needs and face high barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing.

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) supports outreach and case management services for people with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder, and who are experiencing homelessness to meet their basic needs and obtain housing.

Long-term homeless supportive services fund (LTHSSF) provides supportive services to help adults, families and youth who are experiencing long-term homelessness find and maintain housing.

Through this program, funding is provided for outreach and drop-in programs, emergency shelter programs, and integrated supportive housing for homeless youth and youth at-risk of homelessness.

This program delivers specialized program services to youth victims of sexual exploitation through emergency shelter, supportive housing, specialized foster care and outreach. Read more.

This program increases access to mental health services for youth residing in a Safe Harbor or Homeless Youth Act shelter or housing program.

This program provides time-limited rental assistance and supportive services to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness.

This helps people at risk of homelessness who are leaving Minnesota correctional facilities find and keep housing. Learn more on the Bridging Benefits webpage.

DHS in partnership with Minnesota Housing subsidizes rental units for persons under 62 who meet certain eligibility rules. Find out more at the Minnesota Housing website.

General Assistance helps people without children pay for basic needs. It provides money to people who can't work enough to support themselves, and whose income and resources are very low.

Emergency General Assistance helps adults with low incomes who are facing a household emergency, such as eviction or utility shutoff. This benefit can only be received once in a twelve-month period and funding is limited. Learn more on the Emergency General Assistance webpage.

The Housing Support Program is a state-funded income program pays for room and board for seniors and adults with disabilities who have low incomes. The program aims to reduce and prevent people from living in institutions or becoming homeless. The program pays up to $1,192 per month in group settings and $1,242 per month in community settings for housing and food costs as of July 1, 2025.

Minnesota Supplemental Aid provides cash assistance to help adults who get Supplemental Security Income pay for their basic needs. Some people who are blind, have a disability or are older than 65 but do not get Supplemental Security Income because their other income is too high may also be eligible for Minnesota Supplemental Aid if they meet the income limit.

Applying for federal Social Security disability benefits can be a challenge. Social Security advocates help people with disabilities apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI). Advocates are available to help file an application, appeal a denied application, and make sure that you are applying for all benefits for which you are eligible. One of the program's goals is to help individuals transition from state-funded public assistance to federal disability benefits.

Minnesota contracts with agencies throughout the state to provide this service. Find those agencies in this Social Security Advocacy Services directory.