Program Overview
See ‘Program Process’ below for information on applying.
Mission
The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program allows Align Minneapolis to further its focus on long-term housing solutions by expanding our areas of involvement to include homeless prevention. Align Minneapolis ERA pools together resources, experience, and capacity in our member congregations to have a coordinated impact within the same programmatic structure.
The program supports individuals and families by providing rental assistance in a time of short-term financial crisis. As part of our program guidelines we require that the short-term crisis that led to back-due rent is resolved and applicants are able to pay their rent going forward. Our goal for ERA is to step in during a temporary situation to get applicants caught up on their back-due rent in order to stabilize them in their housing, prevent homelessness, and allow them to move forward beyond the temporary crisis.
Applicant Requirements
Minneapolis resident (within City of Minneapolis boundaries) or relationship with an Align Minneapolis congregation (see map below for City of Minneapolis boundaries)
Current (within last 2 months) denial by Hennepin County for Emergency Assistance/Emergency General Assistance (or proof you used Hennepin County Emergency Assistance within last 12 months)
Documentation of income to cover rent going forward
Crisis situation that led to back-due rent must be one-time, with a clear resolution, and short-term (less than three months duration). Documentation of crisis that led to back-due rent, for all missed rent payments, must be accounted for in crisis documentation
Payment must be for current ongoing rent; no down payments, mortgages, security deposits, first months rent, or previous residences
Back-due rent must not exceed 3-months worth of rent and must not exceed $3,000 (both must be true). Crisis documentation must account for back-due rent. Note this is a maximum that can be owed in order to apply for program, amount owed must be accounted for (for example, if loss of income is only for one month, then only one-month back-due will be considered).
No current court-ordered eviction or payment plan for the residence
THE ABOVE LIST COVERS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM. APPLICATION IS NO GUARANTEE OF ASSISTANCE. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE APPROVED BY A REVIEW PANEL AND FUNDING MUST BE AVAILABLE PRIOR TO ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED.
Program Process
After reviewing the above requirements, applicants will gather the documents listed below and bring to one of the locations listed below to apply in-person.
Alternative methods of applying are available to applicants who cannot complete the application at one of the intake locations listed, please email rent@alignmpls.org for more information (note there is currently a long wait for applying by a method other than in-person, we highly recommend applying in-person at one of the locations listed below).
APPLYING FOR OUR PROGRAM IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF ASSISTANCE. OUR PROGRAM HAS LIMITED FUNDING AND A HIGH VOLUME OF APPLICANTS
Required Documentation
Applicants will need to provide the documentation listed below:
Photo identification
Lease or legal rental agreement (address must be within City of Minneapolis legal boundaries, more information about legal City of Minneapolis boundaries can be found here)
Hennepin County denial letter for Emergency Assistance/Emergency General Assistance
Proof of income (ex/employment and/or any public assistance)
Late rent notice from landlord
Documentation of one-time, short-term crisis that led to back-due rent, for example but not limited to:
Receipt for emergency car repair
Medical report of injury and proof of income loss
Receipt for travel expenses for funeral
Unemployment statement or termination letter
Intake Locations
Central Lutheran Church *CLOSED FOR INTAKES WEEK OF DEC. 23rd and WEEK OF DEC. 30th
First come first served
Mondays 12:30-2pm, Wednesdays 12-1:30pm
333 South 12th Street Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States
phone: 612-870-4416
Basilica of St. Mary St. Vincent de Paul Outreach *CLOSED FOR INTAKES DEC. 23rd and DEC. 30th
must bring all documentation listed above printed out (no electronic documentation)
First come first served
Mondays, 9:30-11am
88 N 17th St Minneapolis, MN, United States
phone: 612-317-3413
Mount Olive Lutheran Church *CLOSED FOR INTAKES WEEK OF DEC. 23rd and WEEK OF DEC. 30th
First come first served
Tuesdays, 11am-2pm
3045 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, United States
phone: 612-827-5919
St. Olaf Catholic Church *CLOSED FOR INTAKES DEC. 23-25, DEC. 31-JAN. 1
By appointment (call phone number below to schedule)
215 S 8th St, Minneapolis, MN, United States
phone: 612-332-7471
All completed applications are reviewed weekly by staff, clergy, volunteers, of Align Minneapolis congregations.
City of Minneapolis Boundary Map
