Housing programs
On this page you’ll find additional information about our housing-focused work across Hennepin County and links to program pages to learn more.
Growing affordable housing
Funding rental housing development
Financing affordable housing
Hennepin County funds the development of affordable housing for households with low incomes. These programs create affordable rental units for people struggling with rising rental costs and stagnating wages. The county requires developers to commit to keep rents low for at least 30 years, ensuring affordability for the long term.
Supportive Housing
Supportive housing combines affordable housing with on-site social services for people with extremely low incomes and other vulnerabilities. Hennepin County offers capital funding and technical assistance to develop long-term affordable supportive housing projects.
Single Room Occupancy
Hennepin County is leading the region and the nation in its innovative Single Room Occupancy (SRO) strategy. SROs offer quality private single rooms, shared kitchens, and shared or individual bathrooms for extremely low-income households at modest rents. The process often includes acquiring existing properties that are easy to convert, such as motels. SROs provide stable housing to people who don’t need social services, but who are experiencing housing instability due to high rent costs.
Homeownership
Increasing the housing supply
The county finances the capital for new homeownership opportunities with several programs. These programs partner with developers who use tools to ensure long-term affordability of the property, such as community land trusts. They also seek new housing models to challenge rising home costs.
- Federal housing programs (CDBG and HOME)
- The Homeownership Assistance Program
Helping people afford homeownership
Hennepin County’s Homeownership Assistance Program is a new funding stream from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. It is intended solely for the creation of homeownership opportunities. In addition to supporting capital for home development, it also provides down payment assistance, helping families afford homeownership in collaboration with NeighborWorks, which launched in March 2024. Learn about the county’s work or apply below.
Housing preservation
Home hazard reduction
Hennepin County offers a variety of programs to help families prevent and reduce the risk of lead poisoning and other safety hazards. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for young children and can have serious effects on their health. The county also provides radon and mold detection and removal.
Home repairs
Hennepin County offers loans for home repairs and maintenance, including accessibility improvements like ramps and handrails for bathrooms. The county also offers repairs to plumbing, electrical, painting, windows, doors, siding, roof replacement, weatherization and more. Weatherization helps homeowners reduce energy costs. These improvements help to keep people in their homes and stabilize whole neighborhoods.
Connecting people to housing
Eviction prevention
Holistic support at the Tenant Resource Center
The Tenant Resource Center (TRC) supports Hennepin County residents who are at risk of evictions or homelessness through a collaborative partnership between community, non-profits, governments, and higher education. The goal of the resource center is to help people avoid the “service runaround” that sometimes comes with the need to access multiple community resources to ensure stability in housing.
Representation in court with Adult Representation Services
The Hennepin County Adult Representation Services Department is an independent county organization that provides advocacy to clients experiencing poverty in civil matters where they are entitled to an attorney. ARS connects clients to resources to support them in achieving self-sufficiency and serve as advocates to protect their rights both in and outside of court.
Rent support with Emergency short-term help
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. Services may include emergency temporary shelter, housing costs, foreclosure prevention, and extra food support.
Emergency shelter
Shelters are a temporary emergency response for people who are experiencing homelessness. Hennepin County contracts with about a dozen provider-managed shelters for adults without children, youth and families. Hennepin County has a “shelter all” policy for families with children younger than 18. In infrequent situations when family shelters are full, we try to work with families to find alternative shelter.
Housing services
Homeless to housing program
Hennepin County residents who are experiencing homelessness can receive housing case management assistance through the Homeless to Housing program. Our case managers help find solutions to homelessness and have the tools to help people find and sustain housing.
Streets to housing
Streets to Housing works with single adults, youth, and families who are living outside, in their vehicles, or other places unsheltered and not meant for human habitation. The Streets to Housing team provides trauma-informed, housing-focused services that reduce barriers and identify safe, appropriate alternatives to living outside, including emergency shelter and permanent housing.
Coordinated Entry homeless assistance
The Coordinated Entry System is a process that assesses and matches eligible households to housing opportunities. Housing opportunities include rapid re-housing, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Some programs are site-based, while others offer a subsidy to be used in market-rate housing (scattered site).