Minnesota Referral Resources

Here are some resources that can help!

A few metro jurisdictions are operating Homeownership Preservation Programs to support homeowners who are past due on their mortgage or other housing expenses. Support includes foreclosure prevention advising, and potential financial assistance from limited fund pools. Homeowners must be able to demonstrate ability to pay housing expenses moving forward in order to be eligible for relief. Not all homeowners will qualify for financial assistance. Some programs are currently running wait lists due to limited remaining funds.

Hennepin Homeownership Preservation Program
- Available to homeowners in portions of Hennepin County, including Minneapolis
- Contact: 651.236.8952
- Website: https://www.hocmn.org/HennepinHPP/
Ramsey Homeownership Preservation Program
- Available to homeowners in Ramsey County, excluding the City of St Paul
- Contact: 651.236.8952
- Website: https://www.tfaforms.com/4947266
Dakota Homeownership Preservation Program
- Available to homeowners in Dakota County
- Contact: 651.236.8952
- Website: https://www.hocmn.org/dakotahpp/
St Paul Homeownership Preservation Program
- Available to homeowners in St Paul
- Contact: 651.236.8952
- Website: https://www.hocmn.org/stpaulhpp/
Washington County COVID Crisis Assistance
- Available to homeowners in Washington County
- Contact: 651.202.2822
- Website: https://www.washingtoncountycda.org/covid-crisis-assistance-for-homeowners/

Legal Aid/Services

If you need a lawyer, there may be resources to assist you. If you are facing imminent foreclosure or have been served with legal papers, you may also need to consult with an attorney. Some attorneys may offer free services or charge a reduced fee. There may also be legal aid offices or legal clinics in your area that will offer their services for free if you meet certain criteria.

Find a lawyer in your area:

If you're a servicemember, you should consult with your local Armed Forces Legal Services office.

Housing Counseling

HUD-approved housing counselors

HUD stands for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It’s a government agency that helps people get and maintain quality affordable housing. They train and sponsor housing counselors all over the country. Because of this, you can have confidence that a HUD-approved housing counselor is well equipped to help you understand and evaluate your options.

Talk to a housing counselor

HUD-approved housing counselors provide foreclosure prevention counseling free of charge. They can also help you talk to your mortgage servicer and understand any options your servicer has offered. Housing counselors can develop a tailored plan of action and help you work with your mortgage company, at no cost to you.

Sources to find a HUD-certified Housing Counselor:

Consumer Finance Protection Bureau: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/find-a-housing-counselor/
Minnesota Homeownership Center: https://www.hocmn.org/search-foreclosure-advisor/
(651) 659-9336 / Toll Free: (866) 462-6466

Foreclosure Prevention Advising is a free, confidential service for homeowners who are in foreclosure or worried about making their mortgage payments. Foreclosure prevention advisors can:

Provide information about the foreclosure process and timeline
Explain what options you may have for staying in your home
Help you work with your mortgage company to apply for a workout option such as a loan modification, which changes the terms of your mortgage to make your monthly payment more affordable
Review your finances with you
Help you develop an action plan

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Advising offers tailored one-on-one advising to help consumers make informed decisions regarding Home Equity Conversion Mortgage and Reverse Mortgage programs.

Refinance Advising helps homeowners considering refinancing make an informed decision.

Utility Bill Assistance

Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Assistance Program (EAP)

The Energy Assistance Program pays up to $2,000 towards heat, power, and water costs, and is free for all eligible households (for those who qualify).

Contact Information: Find your Energy Assistance Partner (for help call 1-800-657-3710)

Website: https://mn.gov/commerce/consumers/consumer-assistance/energy-assistance/

Weatherization Assistance Program. Provides free home energy upgrades to income-eligible homeowners and renters to help save energy and make sure your home is a healthy and safe place to live.

Telephone Assistance Programs. Lifeline and the Telephone Assistance Program offer month discounts on landline telephone, wireless, or internet services to income-qualified households.

Financial Assistance

Minnesota Unemployment Insurance

Contact Information: Twin Cities area: 651-296-3644 / Greater Minnesota: 1-877-898-9090 / Teletypewriter (TTY) users: 1-866-814-1252

Contact Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., except on holidays

Website: https://www.uimn.org/

Bridge to Benefits

Provided by the Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota

Contact Information: 555 Park Street, Suite 410, St. Paul, MN 55103, www.cdf-mn.org

Contact Hours: (651) 227-6121

Website: www.bridgetobenefits.org/ScreeningTool

ApplyMN. This web application can connect you with state and county services to help meet your and your family's basic needs. Use it to apply for cash assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, childcare assistance, and Emergency Assistance. Call 651-431-4000 for questions.

Emergency Assistance. Your household may be eligible for assistance to cover emergency needs, such as help paying rent or utility bills. Contact your county or tribal human services agency to learn about availability, eligibility, and how to apply.

Community Action Agencies. This site gathers local, state, federal, and private resources that can help individuals and families with low incomes.
Website: https://www.minncap.org/

COVID-19 Financial Assistance for Veterans. A variety of grants and resources are available for veterans and their spouses, who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Website: https://mn.gov/mdva/blog/?id=1066-425565

Emergency Assistance Programs

State of Minnesota

Families with low incomes experiencing household emergencies may qualify for Emergency Assistance, a cash-grant program. Contact: Call 2.1.1

Website: https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/children-and-families/economic-assistance/emergency-assistance/

Ramsey County

Emergency Assistance (EA) and Emergency General Assistance (EGA) help with shelter, such as a security deposit or past due rent/mortgage. EA and EGA also help pay for utilities, when there is threat of disconnection. Utilities include electricity, heat and water.

Contact: 651-266-4884

Website: https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/assistance-support/assistance/financial-assistance/emergency-assistance

Hennepin County

When Hennepin County residents are in a financial crisis that poses a direct threat to their physical health or safety, the county may be able to help by providing short-term aid.

Contact: 844-803-8446

Website: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/emergency-assistance

Other Counties & Tribal Programs

Local counties and Tribes may offer Emergency Assistance Programs

County Websites: https://mn.gov/portal/government/local/counties/

Minnesota Indian Tribes: https://mn.gov/portal/government/tribal/mn-indian-tribes/

Food Assistance

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, helps Minnesotans with low incomes get the food they need for nutritious and well-balanced meals. The program provides support to help stretch your household food budget. It is not intended to meet all of your household's food needs. It is a supplement. If you are approved for SNAP, you can use your benefits at many stores, farmers markets, and senior dining sites.

Contact Information: Contact your county or tribal office or find the nearest SNAP outreach partner by calling the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 651-486-9860 in the Twin Cities metro area or 888-711-1151 outside the metro area

HelpLine Phone Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CST

Website: https://mn.gov/dhs/mnfoodhelper/ Find local food shelves, free meals, discount groceries near you by visiting https://www.hungersolutions.org/find-help/

Access to a Computer / Internet

Low-cost devices are available to those who qualify from the organizations listed below. Some internet providers partner with customers who are already receiving low-cost internet services to provide them with low-cost devices as well.

Access to internet-connected computer labs for everyone:
- Local public libraries also provide access to computer labs. This map shows public library locations in Minnesota regions
Access to low-cost or no-cost computers and internet access for those that qualify:
- EveryoneOn provides location-specific information on low-cost or no-cost devices and internet.
- PCs for People offers low-cost devices (prices ranging from $0-150) for eligible recipients

General Resources

USA.GOV

Visit USA.gov to learn more about government programs to help pay for phone bills, medical bills, and other expenses

Website: https://www.usa.gov/help-with-bills

2-1-1 / United Way

United Way 2-1-1 provides free and confidential health and human services information for people in Minnesota. We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect you with the resources and information you need. More information on resources can be found on the 211 United Way Website.

Contact Information: CALL 2-1-1 / Toll Free: 800-543-7709 / Local: 651-291-0211

Contact Hours: 24/7

Website: https://www.211unitedway.org/

Suicide Prevention / Mental Health Resources

Minnesota Department of Human Services

Mobile Crisis Mental Health Services

Mobile crisis services are teams of mental health professionals and practitioners who provide psychiatric services to individuals within their own homes and at other sites outside the traditional clinical setting. Mobile crisis services provide for a rapid response and will work to assess the individual, resolve crisis situations, and link people to needed services.

Emergency mental health services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Call **CRISIS (**274747) from a cell phone to talk to a team of professionals who can help you. (For land lines, see the directory for mental health crisis phone numbers in Minnesota by county.)

Text “MN” to 741741. Crisis Text Line offers free help for those who are having a mental health crisis or are contemplating suicide. Services are available 24/7 across Minnesota.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)

Homelessness Prevention

Minnesota Coordinated Entry Front Door

https://mn.hb101.org/i/map/homeless_map.htm

The Coordinated Entry System (CES) helps people who are experiencing homelessness get into housing. Coordinated Entry lets you contact one office to get into a system that matches people with housing in many different programs. This makes it easier for you to get connected with a program that can help you find a place to live.

Coordinated Entry works statewide, but is run separately in ten different regions. With Coordinated Entry, you contact one office in your region. If you qualify, they do an assessment to see what type of help you need and put your information into the system.

Coordinated Entry prioritizes people based on their needs and situation. How long you have to wait to get a place depends on when there is a program that has a vacancy for people in your situation with your needs.

Government Document Assistance

Getting Access Social Security Documents for a Loan

If you’re applying for a loan, need housing help or need to verify your income, a Benefit Verification letter from Social Security can help. This letter is proof of your retirement, disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare benefits. It can also show that you don’t receive benefits as well.

Website: https://www.ssa.gov/

Access to Tax Records/IRS Transcript

There are three ways for taxpayers to order a transcript:

Online Using Get Transcript. They can use Get Transcript Online on IRS.gov to view, print or download a copy of all transcript types. Those who use it must authenticate their identity using the Secure Access process. Taxpayers who are unable to register or prefer not to use Get Transcript Online may use Get Transcript by Mail to order a tax return or account transcript type. Please allow five to 10 calendar days for delivery.
By phone. The number is 800-908-9946.
By mail. Taxpayers can complete and send either Form 4506-T or Form 4506T-EZ to the IRS to get one by mail. They use Form 4506-T to request other tax records: tax account transcript, record of account, wage and income and verification of non-filing. These forms are available on the Forms, Instructions and Publications page on IRS.gov.

Tax Assistance

Here are some resources that can help you with tax-related services and guidance from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Check out the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s response to COVID-19.
Free electronic tax filing. You may be eligible to electronically file your return for free. View our list of providers to see if you qualify.

Quick Links

Minnesota Referral Resources

Here are some resources that can help!