Program offering emergency rental assistance in Minnesota now accepting applications
April 30, 2021
ST PAUL, Minn. — A newly available rent aid program in Minnesota, called RentHelpMN, is now accepting applications.
The program promises to help eligible renters catch up on overdue rent and utility payments dating back to March 13, 2020. It also specifically offers assistance to Minnesotans who have fallen behind on rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding for the program comes from the federal COVID relief bill passed in December 2020. It provided $375 million to Minnesota for emergency rental assistance, and people can use it to pay past-due or future rent for three months at a time for up to 12 months. According to the Minnesota Housing Department's website, the assistance is for "low-income renter households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI), with a priority for households below 50% AMI and households that have been unemployed 90+ days."