If you are experiencing housing instability, there are supports available to promote school stability and academic success for students. If you are living in temporary or unstable housing, please let your school social worker know. To get connected with your school social worker, call the main office at your school. Eligible students are protected under the McKinney-Vento Act and have the right to:
- Stay in the same school.
- Automatically qualify for free school meals.
- Immediately enroll in school without education records, immunization records, or proof of residency.
- Participate fully in school activities.
- Get school transportation, even across district lines.
- Receive other educational services.
Learn more at hhmfc.mpls.k12.mn.us.
If you are at risk of losing your home, there are resources available:
Hennepin County Housing/Shelter Resources
Updated 8/26/22
General:
211 651-291-0211 or Text your zip code to 898-211*
Tenant Resource Center 612.767.9737
*These are the two best ways to seek out resources unique to a particular situation. Empowering parents to contact these places directly is a great way to build connections for families.
Link to rental assistance resources.
Search rent help resources here. Eviction Resources.
Emergency Shelter:
- Hennepin County has a right-to-shelter policy for families and even if shelters are full eligible families are placed in hotels for overflow. Most family shelter rooms in Hennepin County have individual apartments and bathrooms.
- Information on Hennepin County shelter information can be found here.
- Families no longer need to pay for their shelter stays in Hennepin County starting January 1, 2022.
- To be eligible for Hennepin County Shelter, adults need to show identification and that they are related to the dependent children in the family. If a family does not have birth certificates and have been connected to other supports through Hennepin County, they can typically get a copy through that system.
- Mary’s Place does intake for family shelter M-Th 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Families seeking shelter should bring their family (including the children) to 525 N. 7th Street for intake.
- Domestic violence emergency shelter information can be found here.
- Youth-specific resources and shelter can be found through the YSN website or app.
Financial Resources to prevent eviction/homelessness:
- Search rent help resources here.
- Apply here to get connected with state and county services or call 612.596.1900
- Emergency Assistance is available once in a 12-month period and housing needs to be affordable.
- If you're not sure what to do, call or visit the Tenant Resource Center at 612-302-3180.
- Stable Homes Stable Schools eviction prevention is a resource for families in 19 elementary schools. More information here.
- If none of these are available MPS has a small amount of funding for eviction prevention through the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW). Average support is $500, request NCJW help here.
Eviction Rights and Court
In fall of 2021:
- Minneapolis passed a permanent policy that landlords must give tenants a 14 day notice for non-payment of rent evictions.
- City Council unanimously approved a "right to counsel ordinance" that would ensure legal representation to low-income renters facing eviction — specifically those whose income "is less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Tenants must show up for court for these resources and protections.
Mediation:
- If you need help jump-starting a landlord-tenant conversation, or getting the details of your agreement ironed out, call the CMRS housing hotline at 763.561.0173 or the Conflict Resolution Center at 612.822.9883. Mediators are part of the Tenant Resource Center team and can help you connect to additional resources.
Legal:
If you need legal information or representation, contact Legal Aid at 612.334.5970 or Volunteer Lawyers Network at 612.752.6655.
In addition, LawHelpMN has legal resources in multiple languages.
Visit Renters Help (211unitedway.org) for legal information and resources for renters.
HOME Line provides free and low-cost legal, organizing, education, and advocacy services so that tenants throughout Minnesota can solve their own rental housing problems.
