Minneapolis Emergency Assistance 2026–27: How Hennepin County's Short-Term Help Works
Updated: 14 hours ago
Facing a shut-off, an eviction filing or losing your home in Minneapolis? Hennepin County's short-term emergency aid may help. Here is what it covers, how to apply, and how to appeal a denial.
AT A GLANCE
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When a crisis threatens your health or safety, such as a shut-off notice, an eviction filing or losing your home, Hennepin County may be able to help with short-term emergency aid. The county runs this help for everyone who lives in Minneapolis and the suburbs around it.
This guide covers what the county says Emergency Assistance can pay for, how to apply, the separate rent-help portal, free eviction lawyers and how to appeal a denial. Every fact comes from Hennepin County's own pages.
What Emergency Short-Term Help Can Cover
Hennepin County says it may be able to help when residents are in a financial crisis that poses a direct threat to their physical health or safety. The county lists these services:
emergency temporary shelter;
housing costs, such as damage deposits or home repairs;
utility shut-off prevention;
foreclosure prevention, moving expenses and transportation to relocate;
extra food support for people on special diets.
The county doesn't publish dollar caps for these payments. Help depends on your situation and on whether your crisis meets the "direct threat" standard.
Two Versions: With Children or Without
The county's appeal rules show that emergency help comes in two forms:
Program | Who it's for | Appeal deadline |
|---|---|---|
Emergency Assistance (EA) | Households with minors | Within 30 days of the notice; up to 90 days with good cause |
Emergency General Assistance (EGA) | Households without minors | Within 30 days of the notice; up to 90 days with good cause |
The county adds one more rule for EGA: an EGA application is only good for 30 days. If more than 30 days have passed, the county recommends that you re-apply instead of appealing.
How to Apply
Hennepin County gives you several ways to apply.
Online: Apply through MNbenefits (mnbenefits.mn.gov). The county's cash-assistance page also points to MNbenefits as the main online application.
On paper: Print the Combined Application Form and mail it to Hennepin County Human Services Department, P.O. Box 107, Minneapolis, MN 55440.
By phone: Call 612-596-1300 to have a form mailed to you. The same number helps if you need help filling out the application. Lines are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The toll-free number is 844-803-8466.
Two points to know:
A phone interview is required.
Benefits don't start until your paperwork is received and processed. Send everything as early as you can.
Sending documents
The county's cash-assistance page lists several ways to get papers to your case:
InfoKeep, the county's secure upload site;
MNbenefits upload;
fax to 612-288-2981;
mail to the P.O. Box above;
drop boxes at Human Service Centers.
Drop box location | Address | Hours listed |
|---|---|---|
Health Services Building (downtown) | 525 Portland Ave., Minneapolis 55415 | Main floor lobby, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays |
South Minneapolis Human Service Center | 2215 E. Lake St., Minneapolis 55407 | First floor, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. weekdays |
North Minneapolis Human Service Center | 1001 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis 55411 | Outside near main entrance |
Northwest Human Service Center | 7051 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center 55429 | Main floor lobby, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays |
South Suburban Human Service Center | 9600 Aldrich Ave. S., Bloomington 55420 | Outside by Hennepin County entrance |
The county also runs digital access points in the community. There you can complete online applications, scan and print Human Services documents, and use a phone to reach a representative.
Before you call
The county's emergency page doesn't print a checklist. Your worker will tell you what's needed during the phone interview. To avoid delays, have these ready to upload:
☐ photo ID for adults in the household;
☐ proof of recent income;
☐ the notice behind the emergency, such as a utility shut-off notice, a 14-day eviction notice, a court summons or a foreclosure notice;
☐ your lease, or a bill or estimate showing the amount you need;
☐ your landlord's or utility's contact details.
Behind on Rent? Use RentHelpHennepin
The county sends renters who may lose their housing to a separate portal, RentHelpHennepin, to check whether they qualify for help paying rent. If you need more help, call the Tenant Resource Connection at 612-767-9737. Leave a message and they'll call you back.
What the county tells renters to do
The county's eviction-prevention page lists these steps for tenants behind on rent:
Find out what kind of assistance you're eligible for.
Talk to your property manager about a payment plan. Free mediation is available at 612-200-3551 or hennepincourt@communitymediationmn.org.
Understand where you are in the process. You should get at least a 14-day written notice before your property manager files an eviction in court.
Go to your hearing if you receive a summons.
Keep a copy of your lease and know what it says.
If an Eviction Has Been Filed
Hennepin County's message is direct: if you don't attend your eviction hearing, you lose your case.
If you don't attend your eviction hearing, you lose your case.
The county also says that many eviction filings can be resolved with a settlement that lets people stay in their housing, and that you can access free legal representation at court.
Free lawyer: Call Adult Representation Services at 612-348-7012, or email contactARS@hennepin.us. You can complete an eligibility form online.
Lost your summons? Look up your case on the Minnesota Courts website or call 612-348-6000.
The eviction timeline
The county describes these stages:
The property manager gives a 14-day notice of a planned eviction filing.
The property manager files the eviction.
The court mails a summons to the tenant.
Both sides must attend the hearing. If the tenant doesn't, the owner wins.
The judge hears both sides. The tenant may be able to stay or may have to leave.
The county says a tenant can ask for help at any point in this process.
If You're Denied: How to Appeal
You have the right to appeal any action on your case that you don't agree with.
How to file:
Write a handwritten request, or use the Appeal to State Agency form (DHS-0033).
Send it to Hennepin County by mail (P.O. Box 107, Minneapolis, MN 55440), fax (612-288-2981), upload through mnbenefits.mn.gov, or a Human Service Center drop box.
You can also send the DHS-0033 form straight to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Instructions are on the form.
Deadline: Request a hearing within 30 days of receiving a notice of proposed action. With good cause, you can file up to 90 days after the notice. For EGA, keep the 30-day application rule in mind. Re-applying may be faster.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Waiting until after the shut-off or lockout to apply. The county's help is meant to stop a crisis, so apply as soon as you have a notice.
Missing the phone interview. It's required, so answer unknown numbers and check your voicemail.
Skipping court because you applied for rent help. An application doesn't stop your hearing. Go anyway.
Letting an EGA denial sit for weeks. After 30 days, re-applying is often the faster path.
Fleeing Abuse?
The county lists Day One Services for domestic violence shelter. Call 866-223-1111 or text 612-399-9995. Advocates are available 24 hours a day.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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More help in Minneapolis
FSR doesn't have a Minneapolis hub page yet. Start with our Minneapolis eviction court guide, which walks through Hennepin County Housing Court step by step.
Related guides
Official sources
Programs change. Before you act, confirm details with Hennepin County at 612-596-1300.
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