Housing

Spare Key

Spare Key’s housing grant program is designed to provide a housing grant during the crisis period of a child’s illness or injury. Spare Key’s mortgage and rent grant application is easy to use, and can be done quickly and with a minimal amount of paperwork for the social worker or the family. Our goal is to help families without putting an additional burden on them during their child’s medical crisis. This is reflected in both our application process and our guidelines. Spare Key requires that applicants have a dependent child (18 years of age or younger) who has been hospitalized for 14 or more days in the past 90 days. The program is open to families homeowners in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin who are current on their mortgage or rent.

Applicants must have exhausted all paid leave or demonstrate a significant reduction in income as a result of their child’s hospitalization; OR applicants must demonstrate that their child’s medical care has resulted in a significant increase in expenses. If the application is approved, the mortgage or rental grant is made directly to the mortgage lender, landlord or rental property manager.

To learn if Spare Key could help your family or someone you know, review the Program Guidelines or call: (952) 406-8872. Web-site: www.sparekey.org

The Arc of Minnesota Housing Opportunities Program

Persons with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families or representatives are offered help with minor or major housing issues. Support is offered through three programs:

Housing Counseling:

Counseling help with housing questions, information and referrals. Topics can cover any housing issue but generally cover items such as: ownership, rental, social service supports, trusts, licensing, maintenance, roommates, and many other residential issues. Also, counseling help with home financing and other residential costs. This involves finding financial assistance through mortgage programs, grants and other sources for the purchase, construction, repair, accessibility, remodeling, etc. of a home.

Housing Access Coordination (HAC):

HAC is an approved service within the MR/RC Waiver. The cost for this service is paid by the Waiver. HAC service allows an authorized consultant to provide direct housing support to a client or his or her representatives, to assist them with housing decisions or the implementation of their housing plans. For example, this service might help with: 1) seeking subsidized rental programs; 2) locating an available apartment: 3) obtaining mortgage financing; 4) finding a home to purchase; 5) constructing a home; 6) deciding on house mates; 7) maintenance planning; 8) and much, much more.

Demonstration Housing Programs:

The Arc of Minnesota plays a major role in several trial housing programs designed to improve or expand housing opportunities for persons with DD. Currently The Arc of Minnesota is a part of the HomeChoice program (a mortgage program for people with disabilities) and the Landlord Partnership Program (coordinating Hennepin County and the Section 8 program). (For more details contact Dennis Collins at 651-523-0823 or 1-800-582-5256, ext. 111, email: dennisC@arcmn.org website: www.arcmn.org

Catholic Charities offers a variety of housing and emergency services for the homeless and those in need of food. www.cctwincities.orgPhone: (612)-204-8500.

Centers for Independent Living (CIL)

Minnesota's eight Centers for Independent Living (Centers or CIL) are non-residential, consumer-controlled non- profit organizations serving people of all ages with physical, sensory, mental or other disabilities. The philosophy guiding all Centers and CIL services is people with disabilities have the right to control their own lives and fully participate in all areas and aspects of society. The services offered by Minnesota's Centers are designed to assist individuals with disabilities to live with greater independence, to contribute their talents and creativity, to expand their options and secure their basic rights in areas such as housing, transportation, education and employment. Centers are located in St. Cloud, Rochester, Mankato, East Grand Forks, Marshall, Moorhead, Hibbing and St. Paul.

Consumer control is the key element of the Independent Living (IL) philosophy. A majority of every Center's governing board, managers and staff are people with disabilities. Each CIL in Minnesota offers differing ancillary services. All of Minnesota's Centers, however, are mandated to provide the following services: IL Skills Evaluation and Training, Peer Counseling, Advocacy, and Information and Referral.

For additional information on Minnesota’s Centers and/or State IL Services, please contact Bradley Westerlund, Department of Employment and Economic Development at 651-259-7351. www.mnsilc.org

Heat Share (1-800-842-7279)

Heat Share is a statewide energy assistance program available through the Salvation Army. Families call the 800 number and enter their zip code to be transferred to the Heat Share office closest to them. This is a program of “last resort” (i.e.: the household has received a shut off notice). There are income guidelines. Families must first apply for emergency assistance through their county and to the Energy Assistance Program and show proof of these program acceptances or denials. Heat Share pays the electric or heat provider directly. The link below lists phone numbers specific to your service area: www.thesalarmy.com.

HousingLink provides affordable-housing, waiting list, and section 8 voucher information to the Twin Cities metropolitan area and selected regions of Greater Minnesota. 612-522-2500; http://www.housinglink.org

Housing Resources ToolBox

The Housing Resources ToolBox provides information on: 1) housing options in Minnesota; 2) services to help keep you in your home; 3) affordable housing programs; and 4) searchable databases for locating housing. Individuals and their families, county staff, and housing and services providers may access information to address the unique needs of older adults, refugees, people with disabilities, and the homeless. Included are descriptions of living arrangements, homelessness prevention and programs, housing information for refugees, information and resources on housing rights, innovative housing options for people with disabilities, resources for relocation/nursing home transition, services and programs to keep individuals in their own homes, vacancies lists and public housing waiting list information, and web resources to locate housing services. www.dhs.state.mn.usand click on the Economic Supports tab.

Minnesota Energy Assistance Programs

Minnesota Department of Commerce (MDC) This website is dedicated to Minnesota energy information. The Energy Info Center, Utility Information and Energy Assistance information are all included on this site.

1-800-657-3710 (MN only) http://www.energy.mn.gov

Minnesota Help Info

The website contains searchable databases and up-to-date lists for locating housing and service providers in Minnesota according to zip codes or city and state. Includes shelters, crisis nurseries and vouchers for lodging. www.minnesotahelp.info

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA)

Financial and advance affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income Minnesotans.

www.mnhousing.gov/ Address: MHFA, Home Improvement Division, 400 Sibley St., Suite 300, St. Paul, MN 55101. Phone: 651-296-7608 or 1-800-657-3769 outside Metro area.

National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, Inc

A caring association of more than 150 nonprofit organizations located throughout the U.S. that provide family-centered lodging and support services to families and their loved ones who are receiving medical treatment far from their home communities. 800-542-9730

http://www.nahhh.org

Rebuilding Together – Twin Cities

An affiliate of the national non-profit Rebuilding Together organization, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities works with volunteers and partners in the metro area to preserve and revitalize low-income homes. www.rebuildingtogether-twincities.org

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