Shelter is meant as a temporary, safe place to stay while you are figuring out your next step.

Youth

There are several youth shelters available throughout Hennepin County. Each have their own eligibility and intake process. For information, visit the Youth Services Network.

Adults without children

There’s now a single point of entry for assessment and placement at a shelter. Visit Adult Shelter Connect.

Families

Families living in Hennepin County may be able to access emergency shelter - a temporary, safe place to stay while figuring out next steps towards stable housing.

Connect to a family shelter expert

Families can call 612-348-9410 during the following hours:

• Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Weekends and holidays: 1 to 9 p.m.
• After hours: Call 211 (mobile: 651-291-0211) and ask for the after-hours shelter team

Families can expect to work with a family shelter expert to identify a shelter.

Once in shelter, families will be referred to Coordinated Entry for possible affordable housing. Staff will work with families to identify other services needed such as food or health care.

Hennepin County doesn't operate shelters, but works with shelter providers to connect families to this critical short-term support to stay safe.

We know shelter is just the first step. Once safely in shelter, families will work with the county and other service providers to help find stable housing and other resources to support their well-being.

More about contracted Hennepin County shelter providers

• People Serving People
• St. Anne’s Place

If you’re fleeing domestic violence

Call Day One at 1-866-223-1111

Day One connects you to the closest available domestic violence shelter near you, and all available domestic violence shelters in the state.

For more information, visit our homelessness and housing resources webpage.

To apply for assistance, fill out an online application or print the combined application form and mail it back to: Hennepin County Human Services Department, P.O. Box 107, Minneapolis, MN 55440

You may also call 612-596-1300 to have a form mailed to you.

If you need assistance with completing an application, call 612-596-1300, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Please be aware that your benefits will not start until your paperwork is received and processed. A phone interview is required.

You may be able to get similar help from another homeless prevention program if you have used emergency short-term help from the county in the last 12 months or applied for emergency short-term help from the county, but were denied.

To get help from these programs, you must meet all three of these criteria:

• Live in Hennepin County in a home you rent or own, in someone else’s home for at least three months or in permanent supportive housing
• Will lose your home and have no other housing options within 30 days
• Have extremely low income (for example, less than $1,653 per month for a single person or less than $2,358 per month for a family of four)

Eligibility for these programs is determined by your residential address. Before you visit one of these organizations in person, call ahead to get information on when you can apply and whether funds are still available for the month.

Single adults

Catholic Charities Opportunity Center

Contact at 612-204-8273.

Map: Catholic Charities Opportunity Center
740 East 17th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Families and single adults

St. Stephen's Human Services

Contact at 612-870-2298.

Map: St. Stephen's Human Services
2309 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Youth (under 24) and young families

YMCA Youth Intervention Services

Contact at 763-493-3052.

Map: YMCA Youth Intervention Services
2304 Jackson Street Northeast, Minneapolis, MN 55418

American Indian families

Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center

Contact at 612-728-2026.

North Minneapolis residents

NorthPoint Health and Wellness

Contact at 612-767-9500.

Map: NorthPoint Health and Wellness
1256 Penn Avenue North (Suite 5300), Minneapolis, MN 55411

If you don't agree with an action taken on your case, you have the right to appeal.

File an appeal

There are several options to file. 

Submit a handwritten request to appeal or use the Appeal to State Agency form (DHS-0033) to Hennepin County:

• Mail
  Hennepin County Human Services Department
  PO Box 107
  Minneapolis, MN 55440
• Fax: 612-288-2981
• Online drop box: hhsews@hennepin.us
• Upload to your account: mnbenefits.mn.gov
• Drop off: Any Hennepin County Human Service Center drop box

Submit the Appeal to State Agency form (DHS-0033) to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Submission instructions on the form.

Timelines

Emergency assistance (with minors in the household)

You must request the appeal hearing within 30 days of receiving a notice of proposed action, or show good cause for not requesting within that time. You may file an appeal up to 90 days after receiving the notice of proposed action if you show good cause for not filing within 30 days.

Emergency general assistance (without minors in the household)

You must request the appeal hearing within 30 days of receiving a notice of proposed action, or show good cause for not requesting within that time. You may file an appeal up to 90 days after receiving the notice of proposed action if you show good cause for not filing within 30 days. An emergency general assistance application is only good for 30 days, if the appeal request is longer than 30 days ago, it is recommended you re-apply for the program.