Bridges Program

Minnesota Housing, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Administration (DHS-BHA) and Housing, Homeless and Support Services Administration (DHS-HHSSA), manages the Bridges Rental Assistance Program and Bridges Regional Treatment Center (RTC) Rental Assistance Program (collectively referred to as the Bridges Program). The Bridges Program provides temporary rental assistance and funds for fees necessary to maintain and foster the integration of people with mental illness into their communities in accordance with Minnesota Statute 462A.2097 and Minnesota Rule 4900.3767.

Housing agencies awarded Bridges Program funding will establish a rental housing assistance program for low-income people with mental illness. The rental subsidy is temporary and intended to bridge the housing gap between permanent affordable housing and exiting institutions, segregated settings, supervised release, and homelessness.

The Bridges Program operates as a partnership between the housing agency that provides housing subsidies, a local mental health entity, behavioral health service agency/agencies, and partners providing housing stabilization services to connect participants with housing supports and mental health services. Each housing agency administering the Bridges Program must enter into a Cooperative Agreement with a local mental health entity and identify partnerships with a behavioral health service agency/agencies to coordinate the implementation of the program.

Bridges and Bridges RTC Rental Assistance Program Guide - 2024-2025 Contract Term

Bridges and Bridges RTC Rental Assistance Program Guide - 2026-2027 Contract Term

Bridges and Bridges RTC Rental Assistance Program Guide - 2027-2029 Contract Term (coming soon)

Participant Information

Bridges Rental Assistance Program Providers - Find a Bridges Rental Assistance Program Administrator

Eligible Bridges Rental Assistance Program Participants

Under the Bridges Program, an eligible participant must meet the following requirements:

The head of household or other household member is 18 years of age or over and has a diagnosed mental illness, as defined in Minn. Stat. 245.462, subd. 20 (a), verified by a mental health professional; and
The household is eligible to receive an HCV or other permanent housing option or can become eligible based on successful participation in the Bridges Program; and
The gross income of the household at the time of initial eligibility is at or below 50% of the area median income for the household size.

Housing agencies will work with eligible participants and must give priority to the populations identified below, with highest priority given to those in category 1:

Category 1: People living in an institution, segregated setting, or under correctional supervision who will be homeless upon exit.
Category 2: Households experiencing homelessness who are assessed as high priority homeless through the coordinated entry system, including individuals, families with children, and youth (age 18+).
Category 3: Households experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness.

Eligible Bridges RTC Rental Assistance Program Participants

Under the Bridges RTC Program, an eligible participant must meet the following requirements:

The individual is an eligible participant under the Bridges Program; and
The individual is receiving in-patient care at the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) or Forensic Mental Health Program and does not meet hospital level of care; or
The individual was a patient at the AMRTC or Forensic Mental Health Program prior to entering an intensive residential treatment services (IRTS) facility or other treatment facility; and
The individual has significant or complex barriers to accessing and retaining housing; and
The individual is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness upon AMRTC or Forensic Mental Health Program discharge.

Administration Information

Administration information is for grantees that are currently receiving program funding.

Sample Cooperative Agreement

2026 Annual Bridges Program Meeting: Bridges annual 2026 meeting: Watch the recording (00:51:44)

Program Qualification and Administrative Forms

2024-2025 Contract Term Forms:

Leasing Forms

2024-2025 Contract Term Forms:

Participant Briefing Materials

2024-2025 Contract Term Materials:

#16 Index for Briefing Packet
#17 Participant Rent Payment Computation Form
#18 How to Find a Rental Unit
#21 HQS - Finding a good place to live

Draw Request Form and Submittal Instructions

The draw request workbook is secured with a password that must be entered each time the workbook is opened. This added security measure will protect confidential participant data when sent via Secure Upload Tool. Before attempting to open or download this file, you must request the password by sending an e-mail to any of the Rental Assistance staff members at Minnesota Housing. The draw request is submitted monthly by housing agencies and due by the 15th of each month.

Bridges Program Draw Request Form (XLSM) Updated 7.1.2026 - For Bridges Grantee use ONLY. Additional field inputs are required to capture referral date; barriers to housing and expanded categories for Head of Household Race/Ethnicity.
- NOTE: Due to the macro's inside the draw request form, you may be prompted to open the file vs. save the file. Please use a “Save As” option to download this file, rather than “Open". After downloading, encoded Microsoft securities can be enabled by "unblocking macro’s" within the document properties.
Rental Assistance Secure Upload Tool and Secure Upload Instructions

Trainings and Tutorials

Trainings

Minnesota Housing hosted a training to assist their partnering housing agency’s in better understanding the 2024-2025 Bridges and Bridges RTC Program Guide changes and the forms that assist in tracking the progress of the Bridges work plan and metrics for the 2024-2025 contract term.
Training recording (1:08:56)

Draw Request Form Tutorials

NOTE: The tutorials outline accurate reporting requirements that are generic to a variety of Minnesota Housing Rental assistance programs. However, the Bridges program requires additional field inputs that capture the referral date; barriers to housing and includes expanded categories for Head of Household Race/Ethnicity, which are excluded from the tutorial recordings. Use the instructions in the draw request for more information on how to accurately report those details on your reporting.

Downloading the Draw Request Form (15:54) - How to download the draw request form; how to import data from a previous workbook; how to save and submit for reimbursement and program compliance.

Part I: Draw Request Form Functionality (16:05) - PART ONE outlines features of the draw request form, various functions and calculations.

Part II: Draw Request Form Functionality; Monthly Log (16:52) - PART TWO focuses on the ‘MONTHLY LOG’ tab of the workbook; automated calculations and formulas; rounding, prorating and how to report suspensions and terminations.

Certifications and Name Changes (18:29) - Details the differences between annuals, interims, unit transfers, suspensions; terminations; how to report late certifications; head of household and name changes.

Housing Related Expenses, Utility Reimbursements (also known as Excess Utility Expenses) and Adjustments (11:56) - Outlines housing related expenses; Utility Reimbursements (also known as excess utility expenses) and adjustments.