Housing
Housing programs and services
The Homelessness, Housing, and Support Services Administration, along with partners at other state agencies, works to ensure housing is available for everyone. We bring together housing, services and income supports in order to enable people to live as independently as possible in the community of their choice.
Grant programs
The Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Administration manages several grant programs to assure an effective homeless response system for Minnesotans.
Community Living Infrastructure (CLI)
These grants provide funding to counties and Tribal Nations to integrate housing into local health and human services systems.
Crisis Housing Assistance Services
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
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.
Emergency solutions grant
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)
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)
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)
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 Homelessness Services and Supports Fund (LTHSSF)
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.
Homeless Youth Act (HYA)
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.Safe Harbor (SH)
This program delivers specialized program services to youth victims of sexual exploitation through emergency shelter, supportive housing, specialized foster care and outreach. Read more.Shelter-Linked Mental Health
This program increases access to mental health services for youth residing in a Safe Harbor or Homeless Youth Act shelter or housing program.
Transitional Housing Program (THP)
This program provides time-limited rental assistance and supportive services to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness.
Community Living Supports
HHSSA offers several programs that help people achieve housing stability in a community of their choice.
Bridging Benefits
This helps people at risk of homelessness who are leaving Minnesota correctional facilities find and keep housing. Learn more on the Bridging Benefits webpage.Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance Program
The department is 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.
Income assistance
Minnesota has a range of programs that provide income assistance.
General Assistance (GA) 2
General Assistance helps Minnesotans with little or no income meet their basic needs
Housing Support
Housing Support (previously known as Group Residential Housing, or GRH) is a state-funded income supplement that 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 (MSA)
Minnesota Supplemental Aid is income supplement for people who are eligible for federal Supplemental Security Income benefits
Social Security Advocacy
Applying for federal Social Security disability benefits can be a challenge. DHS Social Security advocates are available to help you file an application, appeal a denied application, and make sure that you are applying for all benefits for which you are eligible.