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Minnesota Housing Resources

MN Housing Rights and Legal Issues

  • Disability Minnesota: Housing
    Disability Minnesota provides a single entry point to over 100 Minnesota state agency programs, products, and services that are devoted to the range of disability issues. We also provide access to laws, statutes, and regulations in pertinent disability-related areas brought to you by a collaborative group of state agencies.
  • Minnesota Department of Human Rights
    Contact Person: Gary Gorman, Housing Enforcement Supervisor
    190 E 5th Street, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101
    Phone: 651-296-5663; 800-657-3704
    Email: Gary.Gorman@state.mn.us
    The MN Department of Human Rights’ mission is to make Minnesota discrimination free including discrimination based on disability, family status, public assistance status, sex, national origin and race. The department is a neutral state agency that investigates charges of illegal discrimination including reasonable accommodations made for people with disabilities and housing discrimination.
  • Mid-MN Legal Assistance (MMA)
    The oldest corporate component of MMLA —the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis— was founded in 1913. LASM is also the state-designated Protection and Advocacy agency for persons in Minnesota with developmental disabilities, mental illness and other disabilities. And it is the state Client Assistance Program that protects the rights of those seeking services from the vocational rehabilitation system.
  • MN Legal Services Coalition (LawHelpMN.org)
    LawHelpMN.org provides information for low-income Minnesotan's to solve civil legal problems. The Housing Link provides information on a variety of topics including housing fact sheets, housing discrimination, public and subsidized housing, eviction. The Disability Link provides information on Home and Community Based Services, MA, SSI, Guardianship and Conservatorship as well as other topics.
  • Tenants Rights in Minnesota written by MN Legal Services Coalition State Support Center
  • Housing Court, Hennepin County
    Phone: 612-348-5186
    Housing Court was created as a specialty court to provide an accessible and efficient forum for litigants with landlord and tenant disputes.
  • Adult Protective Services Vulnerable Adults Act
    651-296-5563 or 651-297-3984
    The Adult Protective Services unit is a consultant for Minnesota's Vulnerable Adult Act [Minnesota Statute Section 626.557 (1995)]. In addition to educating the public about maltreatment of vulnerable adults, Adult Protective Services consults with local agencies, including counties and law enforcement agencies.
  • Ombudsman
    An ombudsman is an independent consumer advocate who handles complaints concerning the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term care consumers. The Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans works with consumers, citizens, nursing homes, hospitals, home care and social service agencies and public agencies to enhance the quality of life and services for individuals receiving health care and supportive services at home, in hospitals, nursing homes and other community settings such as housing with services (assisted living), adult foster care and adult day centers. The office also works to enhance the quality of life and services for consumers by advocating for reform in the health care and social services delivery systems through changes in state and federal law and administrative policy.
  • Ombudsman Regional Map pdf icon
  • Regional Resource Specialists pdf icon
    Technical assistance and questions about home care, the CAC, CADI, MR/RC and TBI waivers and SILS (Semi-independent living services) to counties and the public. Call: 1.800.657.3739 (747-5484) or 651.431.2670 (2400)
  • Patient's Bill of Rights (MN Statute 144.651)
    A summary of the Patients and Residents of Health Care Facilities Bill of Rights covers all patients or residents in Minnesota health care facilities.
  • Guardianship
    Guardianships are court-ordered protective arrangements whereby a court -appointed guardian agent manages the personal life affairs, as needed, for a ward, who has been proven to be an incapacitated person unable to manage their own certain life affairs.
  • DHS Guardianship definitions and laws

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Eligibility and Funding

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Housing and Mental Health

  • Housing and Children's Mental Health Services
    Children's Mental Health staff help children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbance. They work with counties and Children's Mental Health Collaboratives to establish a comprehensive, integrated, and accountable mental health delivery system that meets the mental health needs of children and youth and helps people become as self-sufficient as possible.
  • Housing and Adult Mental Health Services
    Information on predictors and symptoms of mental disorders, where mental health services are available in the county and how to access the services. In Minnesota, the county is responsible for providing public mental health services. Contact your county for more information about education and prevention services. Crisis phone numbers are listed for each county.
  • MHCP Provider Manual - Mental Health Services Overview (Chapter 16)
  • ARHMS - Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services
    Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS) are mental health services which are rehabilitative and enable the recipient to develop and enhance psychiatric stability, social competencies, personal and emotional adjustment, and independent living and community skills, when these abilities are impaired by the symptoms of mental illness.

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MN Homeless Shelter Programs

  • Homeless Shelter Programs
    Homeless Programs receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the State of Minnesota. Funds are awarded to local service providers through a biennial request for proposal process. Eligible service providers include transitional housing programs, Community Action Agencies, Indian Tribal Governments, local governments, shelters, non-profit service providers, and statewide migrant farm-workers’ organizations.

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MN Housing Technical Assistance, Training, and Publications

  • The Arc of Minnesota's Housing Opportunities Program
    Contact Persons: Dennis Collins; Scott Schifsky
    Phone: 651-523-0823, ext. 111; 952-920-0855
    Email: dennisc@arcmn.org; scottschifsky@arcgreatertwincities.org
    The Arc of Minnesota is an advocacy organization supporting persons with intellectual and related developmental disabilities across the lifespan. The Core services of Arc include: information and assistance, advocacy, education workshops on all disability-related topics and systems, sibling and parent support groups, self-advocacy training and public policy networks for change. It offers a Housing Opportunities program assisting persons and their families with counseling, consulting, demonstration programs and problem solving related to housing.
  • The Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota
    Contact Person: Bruce Nelson, Executive Director
    Phone: 651-291-1086
    Email: bnelson@arm.org
    The Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM) is a trade association representing 140 Minnesota providers who support people with disabilities. ARRM's mission is to lead the advancement of community-based services that support people with disabilities in their pursuit of meaningful lives.
  • Courage Transitional Rehabilitation Program
    Contact Person: Christian Knights
    Phone: 888-846-8253; 763-520-0725
    Email: christian.knights@courage.org
    Courage Transitional Rehabilitation Program provides a supportive, challenging place to live, temporarily. Licensed as a skilled nursing facility, most participants move on to a variety of community living situations. The state-of-the-art facility combines a welcoming, healing environment with the latest technology and assisted technology. Courage Transitional Rehabilitation Program serves participants with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, congenital conditions and chronic pain. The average participant age is 35. Courage Center is a non-profit rehabilitation and resource center for people with physical disabilities, brain injuries, speech or vision impairments, or hearing loss. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Courage Center offers services to people of all ages and abilities.
  • Disability Linkage Line
    Phone: 866-333-2466
    Disability Linkage Line is a service for Minnesotans with disabilities, chronic illness, family members and service providers. Support provided for individual issues.
  • DHS Minnesota's Housing Resource Toolbox
    DHS Minnesota's Housing Resource Toolbox is a comprehensive resource for housing and service options, affordable housing programs, searchable databases for locating housing, and information to help people stay in their own home. Information is categorized by three user groups: individuals and families, counties, and providers.
  • Disability Minnesota: Housing
    Disability MN provides a single entry point to over 100 Minnesota state agency programs, products, and services that are devoted to the range of disability issues. Provided are access to laws, statutes, and regulations in pertinent disability-related areas. Click on link to Housing.
  • Finding Housing Takes Perseverance, Creativity
    PACER Center and Exceptional Parent Magazine article July 2007
  • A Guidebook on Consumer Controlled Housing for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
    A Guidebook on Consumer Controlled Housing for Persons with Developmental Disabilities outlines some of the options available to people interested in creating consumer controlled housing arrangements. Consumer controlled housing - housing arranged with the needs and preferences of the consumer in the forefront, rather than the needs and preferences of the service provider or service funder, describes major planning considerations, housing options, supportive services and their funding, and available resources. Included are a number of stories shared by people with developmental disabilities and their families that illustrate how they created housing arrangements and supports that allow them to control their own housing.
  • Hennepin County Children, Family & Adult Services Department
    Contact Person: Markus Klimenko, Housing Development and Services Planner
    Phone: 612-596-7036
    Email: markus.klimenko@co.hennepin.mn.us
    Hennepin County contracts with a variety of housing and disability support service organizations on behalf of persons with disabilities and others. To obtain services one must apply and be determined eligible. For some services a waiting period is common.
  • The Metro Crisis Coordination Program: Residential Housing Openings
    Phone: 651-291-1086
    The Metro Crisis Coordination Program (MCCP) and the Association for Residential Resources in MN (ARRM) have collaborated to create a Web site that DD waiver residential providers can list and describe openings they have at their facilities. Consumers and their representatives can go to this site to search by county, type of facility, age cohort served, etc.
  • Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, Inc.
    Contact Person: David Hancox, Executive Director
    Eva Hansen, Director Nursing Home Relocation
    Ed Goldsmith, Housing Specialist
    Phone: 651-646-8342
    Email: davidh@mcil-mn.org; evaha@mcil-mn.org; edg@mcil-mn.org
    MCIL provides a variety of services for people with disabilities, their families and friends, service providers, and interested community members. Services include information and referral, independent living skills, peer mentor programs, individual and systems advocacy and support services, and personal assistance service. Disability Linkage Line is a link for disability services and supports for Minnesotans with disabilities, chronic illness, family members and service providers. Support provided for individual issues.
  • Minneapolis Urban League
    Contact Person: Theresa L. Doss
    Phone: 612-827-9268
    E-mail: tdoss@mul.org
    The Minneapolis Urban League offers housing advocacy, obtaining housing and client discrimination services in its Client Services Program Division. Other Programs include: Economic Development Division, Health Education, Academic Education, Policy Advocacy. It offers these services to all who ask for assistance.
  • Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living
    Phone: 320-529-9000
    Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living (MACIL) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the independent living needs of persons with disabilities who are citizens of the State of Minnesota. MACIL develops new resources and identifies and provides access to existing resources to enable persons with disabilities to live independently. No proof of documentation or disability is required and most services are free. There are eight center locations in Minnesota and 500 nationwide. Among the services provided are: independent living skills training, information and referral, advocacy and peer counseling.
  • The Minnesota Frontline Supervisor Competencies and Performance Indicators pdf icon
    This document identifies competencies required of frontline supervisors providing community support services to people with developmental disabilities in order to foster the development and implementation of excellence in service provision.
  • Minnesota Help Information Directory
    Minnesota Help Information Directory helps to locate community resources in six steps.
  • The Minnesota Housing Partnership
    Phone: 651-649-1710; 800-728-8916
    The Minnesota Housing Partnership offers a comprehensive package of financial and technical resources to increase the supply of affordable housing and to strengthen nonprofit housing developers. These resources include loans, grants, training, VISTA volunteers, organizational support, and housing development coaching. MHP facilitates and funds housing-related planning efforts to ensure that new affordable housing development correlates with workforce needs, minimizes infrastructure costs, and provides links to community services. MHP also supports regional and statewide coordination of planning, resource delivery, educational activities, and homelessness prevention efforts. It also provides training, policy updates, and public education tools to help its partners effectively promote affordable housing. Several programs of the housing partnership are geographically restricted to agencies in Greater Minnesota.
  • MLS listings of homes for sale
    Browse the MLS listings of homes for sale.
  • PACER's Housing Project
    Phone: 952-838-9000, Toll-free for MN parents 800-537-2237
    The goal of PACER's Housing Project is to develop information and resources to help parents of children and young adults with disabilities understand their options for independent living and housing. Parents are encouraged to begin thinking about these issues when their children are as young as 12 years old. This project helps parents understand why it is important to consider housing during the transition years, what housing options are available for their child, what supports and services exist, and what information and referral resources are available to meet their needs. PACER's Housing Project provides individual assistance by phone or in person, workshops on housing options, services and supports, and a housing guidebook including national and state housing resources to individuals with disabilities and their parents.
  • Questions to ask Providers when Making Decisions About Residential Supports for Family Members With Disabilities
    In the Self Advocacy/Self Determination section users are provided with a comprehensive list of questions to ask providers when making decisions about residential supports for family members with disabilities.
  • University of MN: Institute for Community Integration
    Contact Person: Charlie Lakin, Ph.D., Director, The Research and Training Center on Community Living
    Phone: 612-624-5005
    Email: lakin001@umn.edu
    The Institute’s mission is to improve the community services and social supporters available to individuals with developmental and other disabilities. It conducts research, develops publications and provides information on housing issues to persons with disabilities and their families.

  • Person Centered Planning

    • Person Centered Planning
      Human services agencies throughout the country are shifting from a focus on agency practices and system rules to being more centered on the people with disabilities, what each individual wants for their life, and how people with disabilities can have fully inclusive community lives. One of the most powerful methods for achieving those goals is person-centered planning
    • Increasing Person Centered Thinking: Improving the Quality of Person Centered Planning pdf icon
      This manual was prepared as part of a two-year training project conducted throughout Minnesota. It is intended as a resource in training programs about Person-Centered Planning. For people who have already had some or much training and experience in these processes, it is also intended to be useful in improving the quality of facilitation.
    • It's My Choice pdf icon
      A self-guided workbook on person-centered planning by William T. Allen published by the MN Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. Included is a Housing Checklist.
    • Person Centered Planning: A Tool for Transition
      NCSET & PACER Center Article Feb.2004

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Accessibility

  • Accessibility Design, Inc.
    Contact Person: Kelsi Shannon
    Phone: 952-925-0301
    Email: kelsi.s@accessibilitydesign.com
    Accessibility Design is a design and project management company specializing in home access for those with disabilities and seniors. Our services include but are not limited to: plan review, home access site visit, design and consultation, funding research, construction and drafting documents, and project recommendations.
  • The Accessible Home Easy Ways to Improve the Safety, Function, and Value of Your Home
    The Accessible Home Easy Ways to Improve the Safety, Function, and Value of Your Home, Fairview Press $4.95 by Susan Lasoff, MS, OTR/L and Linda Lorentzen, OTR/L Whether someone is thinking of building or buying a new home, buying an existing home, or remodeling a current home, this guide can help make a home safe, comfortable, and functional. The booklet's home checklist can be used in consultation with an architect, builder, designer, or occupational therapist to determine which features would best fit specific needs.
  • Home Accessibility Design and Funding Guides
    People with disabilities often need changes made in their homes so they can live there more safely and independently. This Web site tells you how to make your home safer and it tells you how you can apply to get money to make these kinds of changes to your home.

  • "Smart Home" Technology

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Minnesota Disability Organizations

  • The Arc of Minnesota's Housing Opportunities Program
    Contact Persons: Dennis Collins; Scott Schifsky
    Phone: 651-523-0823, ext. 111; 952-920-0855
    Email: dennisc@arcmn.org; scottschifsky@arcgreatertwincities.org
    The Arc of Minnesota is an advocacy organization supporting persons with intellectual and related developmental disabilities across the lifespan. The Core services of Arc include: information and assistance, advocacy, education workshops on all disability-related topics and systems, sibling and parent support groups, self-advocacy training and public policy networks for change. It offers a Housing Opportunities program assisting persons and their families with counseling, consulting, demonstration programs and problem solving related to housing.
  • Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
    Contact Person: Pete Klinkhammer
    Phone: 612-378-2742
    E-mail: info@braininjurymn.org
    The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota works to bring help, hope, and a voice to the 100,000 Minnesotans who live with a disability caused by a brain injury. There are a variety of programs available including resource facilitation. Resource facilitation is information, resources, and access to services and support for children and adults with brain injury and their families throughout the state of Minnesota.
  • Mental Health Association of Minnesota
    Contact Person: Tom Johnson
    Phone: 612-331-6840
    E-mail: tomj@mentalhealthmn.org
    The mission of the Mental Health Association of Minnesota is to improve the quality of life of people with mental illnesses and promote mental health. The association provides individual advocacy services and information and referral assistance on a wide range of housing issues.
  • Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, Inc.
    Contact Person: David Hancox, Executive Director
    Eva Hansen, Director Nursing Home Relocation
    Ed Goldsmith, Housing Specialist
    Phone: 651-646-8342
    Email: davidh@mcil-mn.org; evaha@mcil-mn.org; edg@mcil-mn.org
    MCIL provides services for people with disabilities, their families and friends, service providers, and interested community members. Services include information and referral, independent living skills, peer mentor programs, individual and systems advocacy and support services, and personal assistance service. Disability Linkage Line is a link for disability services and supports for Minnesotans with disabilities, chronic illness, family members and service providers. Support provided for individual issues.
  • Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living
    Phone: 320-529-9000
    Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living (MACIL) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the independent living needs of persons with disabilities who are citizens of the State of Minnesota. MACIL develops new resources and identifies and provides access to existing resources to enable persons with disabilities to live independently. No proof of documentation or disability is required and most services are free. There are eight center locations in Minnesota and 500 nationwide. Among the services provided are: independent living skills training, information and referral, advocacy and peer counseling.
  • NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) MN
    Contact Person: Sue Abderholden, Executive Director
    Shelley White, Associate Director
    Phone: 651-645-2948 or 1-888-NAMI HELPS
    Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living (MACIL) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the independent living needs of persons with disabilities who are citizens of the State of Minnesota. MACIL develops new resources and identifies and provides access to existing resources to enable persons with disabilities to live independently. No proof of documentation or disability is required and most services are free. There are eight center locations in Minnesota and 500 nationwide. Among the services provided are: independent living skills training, information and referral, advocacy and peer counseling.
  • PACER's Housing Project
    Phone: 952-838-9000, Toll-free for MN parents 800-537-2237
    The goal of PACER's Housing Project is to develop information and resources to help parents of children and young adults with disabilities understand their options for independent living and housing. Parents are encouraged to begin thinking about these issues when their children are as young as 12 years old. This project helps parents understand why it is important to consider housing during the transition years, what housing options are available for their child, what supports and services exist, and what information and referral resources are available to meet their needs. PACER's Housing Project provides individual assistance by phone or in person, workshops on housing options, services and supports, and a housing guidebook including national and state housing resources to individuals with disabilities and their parents.
  • Rise
    Contact Person: Sandy Jorgensen
    Phone: 763-783-2818
    Email: sljorgensen@rise.org
    Incorporated in 1971, Rise is a private, nonprofit agency that offers vocational training, career planning, job placement and follow-up services to people with a wide range of disabilities and other barriers to employment. We offer housing support services to people who have mental health disabilities including transitional housing, independent living skills training, and outreach to people that are homeless.
  • University of Minnesota: Institute for Community Integration
    Contact Person: Charlie Lakin, Ph.D., Director, The Research and Training Center on Community Living
    Phone: 612-624-5005
    Email: lakin001@umn.edu
    The Institute’s mission is to improve the community services and social supporters available to individuals with developmental and other disabilities. It conducts research, develops publications and provides information on housing issues to persons with disabilities and their families.

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Minnesota Government Agencies

  • Minnesota Department of Human Rights
    Contact Person: Gary Gorman, Housing Enforcement Supervisor
    190 E 5th Street, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101
    Phone: 651-296-5663; 800-657-3704
    Email: Gary.Gorman@state.mn.us
    The MN Department of Human Rights’ mission is to make Minnesota discrimination free including discrimination based on disability, family status, public assistance status, sex, national origin and race. The department is a neutral state agency that investigates charges of illegal discrimination including reasonable accommodations made for people with disabilities and housing discrimination.
  • Minnesota Department of Human Services
    Contact Persons: Joseph Alakija, Home and Community Based Living Services;
    Duane Elg, Consultant, Housing Supports
    Phone: 651-431-2437; 651-431-3863
    Email: Joseph.A.Alakija@state.mn.us; duane.elg@state.mn.us
    Minnesota Department of Human Services provides health care, economic assistance, and other services for people who do not have the resources to meet their basic needs. It works with counties and other partners on welfare reform and critical aging and children’s issues, oversees the state’s four publicly funded health care programs, licenses child care and day care facilities, manages budgets and distributes grants, provides state operated services through residential treatment centers and community-based facilities, measures performance and outcomes of programs, and conducts projects to respond to special needs or issues. Go to the DHS web site. Click on Disabilities > Disability Services for more information on a wide array of topics. For Housing Information, click on Economic Supports > Housing.
  • Minnesota State Council on Disability
    Contact Person: Margot Imdieke Cross
    Phone: 651-297-2920
    Email: margot.imdieke@state.mn.us
    The Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD) is an agency that collaborates, advocates, advises and provides information to expand opportunities, increase the quality of life and empower all persons with disabilities. Services are provided to individuals with disabilities and their families, the Governor and Legislature, government and private agencies, employers and the general public.
  • The State of Minnesota's Web site
    The State of Minnesota's Web site includes information on diverse topics such as housing, living and working, transportation, labor and employment, human services, and diverse populations. Go to the Living and Working link.

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