Hennepin County rental grants and loans

The charities and agencies that provide rental assistance programs are often the last line of defense for Hennepin County residents in crisis. All it takes is a single hardship for a tenant to fall behind on their rent. Without the help of these local programs, an eviction or homelessness can become a scary reality.

Fortunately there are options available for nearly every situation. Together there is a network of support to ensure that no family is left out in the cold.

Grant-based support is the primary means of aid for lower income residents. This means that funds given to a household do not have to be repaid. These are the common sources of grants to pay rent in the communities outside of Minneapolis.

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) provides several layers of support for vulnerable families. This charity frequently approves emergency financial assistance to low income tenants who are experiencing problems paying their rent. These grants are used to prevent an eviction when a hardship has caused the household to be unable to make their rent payments. The total amount of aid is limited, so the tenant must be able to resume regular payments after a month or two if they are to qualify for the grant.

IOCP also offers Project Success to provide ongoing partial rent grants to families with a chronic shortfall in their budget. These subsidies can be used to lower the monthly rent costs. Project CONECT helps people stay in their homes permanently while the organization’s affordable housing can be a cheaper alternative to market prices. Anyone living in Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth or Wayzata that would like to get help with their rent should call IOCP at 763-489-7500.

Emergency rental assistance is offered by Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council to the communities outside of Minneapolis. Aid is provided to lower income households who experienced a temporary hardship. To keep these families out of a crisis situation, the organization provides emergency cash aid when necessary to prevent homelessness.

Aid is most commonly used to cover a back rent payment, though it may be possible to use funds towards the move in costs of a new home if an eviction has already occurred. This Emergency Services Program is one of the major distributors of rental assistance grant funds in Hennepin County. To request assistance, families should first call 763-503-2520 to schedule an appointment.

Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) is a charity that gives money to those who live in the northern Twin Cities area. Grants must be used for rent or mortgage as well as any utility bills that are owed.

To apply for grant funding, tenants and homeowners should call the closest office to them. Call 763-566-9600 for the Brooklyn Center office at 7051 Brooklyn Boulevard. A Blaine office is located at 1201 89th Avenue which serves some Hennepin County and mostly Anoka County residents. Call 763-783-4930 to request an appointment.

Western Communities Action Network (WeCAN) distributes funds through the Emergency Assistance program. These grants can pay rent and mortgage, utilities or some other financial needs when a lower income individual or family is in crisis.

WeCAN is primarily in place to serve Hennepin County residents that live outside of Minneapolis. Anyone in Greenfield, Independence, Loretto, Maple Plain, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Rockford, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius, Tonka Bay and Western Orono may apply for aid if they represent a low income family experiencing a temporary hardship. Call the family advocate at 952-472-0742 or visit the Mound office at 5213 Shoreline Drive.

People Responding in Social Ministry (PRISM) administers emergency financial assistance funds that can help pay late rent payments if necessary to prevent the eviction. Families who have been evicted can get help paying the deposit to move to a new rental property.

Households must be based in Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, Robbinsdale or in areas of Plymouth east of I-494. These funds are earmarked to tenants who were denied help from Hennepin County Human Services. To request aid, tenants will first need to call 763-529-1350 to plan a visit to a budgeting class. Appointments with a caseworker are available once the class has been completed. PRISM is located at 730 Florida Avenue South in Golden Valley.

People Reaching Out to People (PROP) is another grant making charity that helps certain households. Tenants must live in Chanhassen or in the town of Eden Prairie, which is where PROP is based. The office is located at 14700 Martin Drive.

Some aid is available for car repairs and utilities, though most is provided towards emergency rent and mortgage payments. Families may call 952-937-9120 to request an appointment with a case manager.

These charities provide substantial grant funding to help residents who live in communities outside of Minneapolis. By providing grants, these families are able to get the help they need without the addition burden of having to repay a loan.

Anoka Hennepin Credit Union provides free membership and low cost loans to residents of northern Hennepin County and surrounding areas. Low rates apply to lines of credit or signature loans, both of which are unsecured so there is no collateral requirement. Residents may call 763-422-0290 to request membership information.

Topline Federal Credit Union allows membership to anyone in Hennepin County and several surrounding counties. Personal loans and personal lines of credit may be approved to use towards rent. Rates were under 10% at press time. Call 763-391-9494 for more information about joining and current loan rates.

These are two nonprofit lending institutions that can provide loans toward rent arrears or for deposit on a new place to live. These are often better suited for higher income families that do not qualify for grant-based programs.