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The BasicsSection 8Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)Other Housing ProgramsHousing and WorkHomeownershipProgram InteractionsExampleFAQsPitfallsNext Steps

Housing

  • The Basics
  • Section 8
  • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
  • Other Housing Programs
  • Housing and Work
  • Homeownership
  • Program Interactions
  • Example
  • FAQs
  • Pitfalls
  • Next Steps

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    updated December 24, 2022
    Housing

    The Basics

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    There are many federal and state housing programs that help people who are disabled, young, elderly, pregnant, or have low income.

    The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (often referred to simply as "Section 8") and Public Housing are among the many federally-funded housing programs that are run by local housing agencies, while Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Housing Assistance and Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) are among the many state-funded programs that help people with disabilities pay for housing costs in both group and community living situations. Minnesota also has state housing programs for people living with HIV/AIDS and for people living with serious mental illness, including those who are transitioning from hospital or inpatient settings back into the community.

    This section explains how the different housing programs work and how you can apply for them. It describes the eligibility rules for each program and discusses how they interact with one another. It also introduces cash benefits programs that can help you pay for housing costs and programs that can help if you find yourself in danger of losing your housing.

    Learn more about housing benefits on Housing Benefits 101.

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    Learn more

    Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

    SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

    Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

    MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

    Benefits and Work Estimator

    See how a work plan can help your situation.

    HousingSection 8
    OpenClose
    The BasicsSection 8Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)Other Housing ProgramsHousing and WorkHomeownershipProgram InteractionsExampleFAQsPitfallsNext Steps

    Housing

    • The Basics
    • Section 8
    • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
    • Other Housing Programs
    • Housing and Work
    • Homeownership
    • Program Interactions
    • Example
    • FAQs
    • Pitfalls
    • Next Steps

    Try It

      Housing

      Section 8

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      Section 8 Overview

      The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (often referred to simply as “Section 8”) is federally-funded program that helps people with low income pay for privately-owned rental housing. It is run by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) or Housing Redevelopment Authorities (HRAs).

      Through the Section 8 program, individuals and families get a “voucher” that can be used to pay part of the cost of their housing. The program allows people to choose where they want to live and what type of housing will be best for them. When you are participating in the program, you usually pay 30% of your monthly household income for rent and the government pays the rest directly to the landlord.

      The help given by the program is designed to be long-term. As long as your income or other family circumstances don’t change very much, you can keep receiving the help. Once you are part of the program you can continue to get help with your rent, even if you move to a new city or another state.

      Eligibility

      Income

      To be part of the Section 8 program you must have an income that is low enough to qualify. Almost all vouchers go to people with very low incomes.

      The exact income limits are different depending on the number of people in your household and where you live, but most people who are getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have incomes low enough to qualify. You can find the limit for families in your situation by checking the Minnesota Income Limits.

      Assets

      There is no limit on the amount and type of assets you can own at the time you apply to the Section 8 program. However, when the housing authority figures out your annual income, it will count a portion of your assets as part of your annual income.

      If your household assets are $5,000 or less, the housing authority will add any actual income you get from your assets to your income total.

      Example
      If you have $3,000 in a savings account and you get 3% a year in interest income, your actual income from the $3,000 is $90. This $90 will be added to your total annual income to figure out your eligibility for the program.
      However, if you have the same $3,000 in a checking account that gives you no interest, then it will not affect your income calculation because the total value of the asset is less than $5,000.

      When your household assets are more than $5,000, the housing authority will use either the actual income you get from the assets, or a percentage of the value of the assets called the “passbook savings rate.” The passbook savings rate is a number established by Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and is roughly the same as the amount of interest income you could have earned if your assets were held in a savings account in the bank. The housing authority will add the greater of these two amounts to your income.

      Example
      Let's say you own an annuity worth $10,000, which pays you $500 in income every year. Each year your actual income from the annuity is $500, or 5% of the value of your asset.
      Now, say that HUD has set the passbook savings rate at 3%. Three percent of the $10,000 annuity is $300. Because your annual income of $500 from the annuity is more than $300 (3% of the total value of the annuity), the PHA will count $500 toward your total annual income.
      On the other hand, if you had the $10,000 in a savings account that only paid you 2%, or $200, per year, the housing authority would count the $300 that was calculated by the passbook savings rate toward your annual income.

      Citizenship Status

      To be part of the Section 8 program you have to be a citizen or a noncitizen with “eligible immigration status.” Eligible immigrants include noncitizens who are permanent legal residents or who have official status as refugees, asylees, or lawful temporary residents.

      Your History with Federal Housing Programs

      If you're not eligible for housing because of a disability-related problem in the past, you may be able to ask for an exceptionto this policy as as a reasonable accommodation.If you or someone in your household has had a problem with a housing authority in the past, you may not be able to get Section 8 housing. You are not eligible if you have been evicted from public housing, terminated from another Section 8 program for bad behavior, or if you committed fraud or other crimes related to the housing program. You are also not eligible if you owe any housing authority money from unpaid rent or damages.

      If you are not eligible for a program because you had a problem in the past with a housing authority, and the problem was related to your disability, you may be able to ask for an exception to this policy as a reasonable accommodation.

      For example, if you have a mental illness and you had the problem with the housing authority when you were not getting treatment or not on medication, you may be able to request an exception to the policy, if you are now getting treatment.

      You can find someone to help you make such a request at your local legal aid office. Minnesota Legal Services Coalition provides a list of local offices.

      Other Factors

      The housing authority may also take other things into account when considering your application. Many of the housing authorities in Minnesota keep some of their Section 8 vouchers just for people with disabilities.

      Other things that may help you qualify
      • Being age 62 or older
      • Being a U.S. Armed Services veteran, widow, or widower
      • Working more than 42 hours per week
      • Being homeless
      • Currently residing in a shelter
      • Having children

      In some counties there may be a waiting list to get a Section 8 voucher. People with disabilities and veterans may be given priority, so be sure to check with your local housing authority about how the waiting list system works, to make sure all of your relevant circumstances are being considered.

      Application Process

      Overview

      Section 8 housing is a federal government program that is run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Local government agencies called Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and Housing Redevelopment Authorities (HRAs) run the Section 8 program in local communities. There are dozens of PHAs and HRAs with housing programs in Minnesota.

      Find the housing authority that runs the program in your area
      • All State public housing authorities
      • Housinglink map for Twin Cities Metro Area

      To speed up the process of getting a voucher, you should apply to as many housing authorities as possible.Once you find a housing authority in the area you want to live, the first step is to fill out their application.

      In most areas there are not enough vouchers to give to everyone that wants one, so you will probably be put on a waiting list. You should apply to several housing authorities in the general area that you would like to live. Some areas have very long waiting lists so it takes a long time to get a voucher. To speed up the process of getting a voucher, you should apply to as many housing authorities as possible.

      Each housing authority has its own application form and you have to fill out a separate application for each one that you apply to. This is made a little easier by the fact that they ask about very similar things, such as who lives in your household and how they are related, what types of income and assets you have, and what your disability status is.

      When you reach the top of the waiting list, you will go through a screening process to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for the program. If you pass the screening you have to go to a meeting at the housing authority called a Section 8 Briefing. After the Briefing you have a short time, usually 60 to 120 days, to find a place to rent (rental unit) that is affordable and where the landlord will accept the voucher.

      Once you find a place to live, the housing authority will inspect it. If they approve it, they will make arrangements with the landlord to pay part of your rent. You will also be responsible to pay your part of the rent, which will be between 30 and 40% of your income.

      For your protection, while you are living in housing that the Section 8 program helps pay for, the housing authority will inspect the housing each year to make sure the owner is keeping it in good condition.

      An important point to remember is that if your disability makes any part of the application process hard for you, you have the right to ask for a reasonable accommodation that will help you have a chance to participate in the program.

      Depending on your circumstances, reasonable accommodations may include help filling out applications, extra time to fill out applications or find rental housing, and help finding housing that will meet your specific needs.

      You should tell the housing authority about any difficulty you are having with applying to or using the Section 8 housing program and ask them to help you.

      How Waiting Lists Work

      Since there are almost always more people who need housing than the number of Section 8 vouchers available, housing authorities will usually put you on a waiting list when you first apply.

      When a housing authority has a waiting list, they will only accept applications if the waiting list is “open.” Open just means that they will allow you to add your name to the list.

      Once you have found an open waiting list, fill out an application and you will be added to the list. When you are on a waiting list it is very important to make sure that you keep your contact information up to date and keep in touch with the housing authority to check on the status of your application. If the housing authority can’t reach you when your turn on the list comes, you may be taken off the list completely.

      It is also important that you respond to all letters from the housing authority. They may write to you to ask for more information or to ask if you still want housing. Because people can apply to many different housing authorities and be on many waiting lists at once, most housing authorities update their list often to make sure that everyone on it still wants a voucher.

      If you don’t respond to an update letter from a housing authority, they will probably think you are no longer interested in a voucher and take you off the waiting list.

      Reasonable Accommodations

      You can ask for reasonable accommodations at many stages during the application process.

      If you have difficulty with the application, the housing authority must help you fill out your application, if you ask them to help you. For example, if you are visually impaired you can ask them to give you an application in Braille or to provide a staff member to read and help fill out the application with you.

      Some housing authorities require you to deliver applications in person or have short time periods during which they accept applications. If your disability makes it hard for you to comply with these policies you can ask for an accommodation.

      Examples of accommodations are allowing you to have someone else drop off the application for you, or giving you extra time to complete and submit your application.

      Finally, if you miss a letter from the housing authority asking you to update your waiting list status and your name is taken off the waiting list, you can ask that your name be put back on to the list, even if the list is no longer open.

      How to Apply

      If you think you qualify for a Section 8 housing voucher, you should contact the public housing agency in your area.

      Contact information for local public housing authorities
      • All State public housing authorities
      • Twin Cities Metro Area Housinglink map
      • Housinglink Resource Numbers

      If you have a problem applying for a Section 8 program, the best people to help you with your application are the housing authority staff. If you get help from someone else, remember that no one should ever charge you money for a Section 8 application. Anyone who sells an application or a voucher is committing a crime.

      How to Appeal if Your Application Is Denied

      If your application is denied, the housing authority has to tell you why, and how you can appeal the decision. Instructions for how to appeal will be in the letter telling you that your application was denied. Make sure to appeal the decision right away, because there will be a time limit.

      Many of the reasons you could be denied may be related to your disability. Examples of such disability-related difficulties include having a hard time filling out the form, or not having enough time to turn in your documents.

      If you think your disability is related to why your application was rejected, you can request another chance to complete your application even after it has been denied, or if the waiting list is now closed.

      Using a Voucher

      What Kind of Apartment Can I Get?

      When you get a voucher, the housing authority will give you guidelines on the size and cost of housing you can rent. If you need a housing unit with more bedrooms, the amount that the housing authority will pay for rent will be higher.

      The number of bedrooms that the housing authority allows you will depend on how many people are in your household and their age, sex, and relationship to each other. Depending on the medical conditions and disabilities of household members, more rooms may be provided.

      For example, a common accommodation is an increase in bedroom size because of the need for a live-in aide or overnight support staff.

      There are many different types of housing that you can rent with a voucher. In addition to houses and apartments, you may be able to use a voucher to help pay for group homes, shared housing, congregate housing, single-room occupancy units, and assisted-living placements.

      If you request to pay for any of these housing types using a voucher as a reasonable accommodation and your local PHA will not let you, you may want to contact the Minnesota Disability Law Center or Chat with a Hub expert to see if anything can be done.

      When you find housing you like, the housing authority may give higher payments to the landlord to help cover the cost of accessibility modifications. As long as the needed modifications are reasonable, landlords must allow you to make them. If you already have an apartment you like, you may also be able to use the voucher to help pay for it.

      How Do I Find an Apartment Once I Get a Voucher?

      When you get a voucher you will have a limited amount of time to find a rental unit. You must be given at least 60 days; many housing authorities allow up to 120 days. It may be difficult to find affordable housing that will meet your needs within this time limit. If you need more time to keep looking for a unit, you can ask for an extension of time as a reasonable accommodation.

      If you find that your unique housing needs make it hard to find a unit within the price range given by your local housing authority, the housing authority may be able to raise your rental amount slightly.

      If you still have difficulty finding appropriate housing, the housing authority can submit a request to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) asking for a specially approved payment amount. Such accommodations are rare, but if the housing market in your area makes it especially hard for you to find suitable housing, don’t hesitate to ask the local housing authority to help you in any way they can.

      Another difficulty you may have when using a voucher is that not all landlords will be willing to accept a voucher. It is legal for them to refuse to accept vouchers. But it is illegal for a landlord to refuse to rent to you because you have a disability. If you suspect that a landlord is refusing to rent housing to you because of your disability you should tell the housing authority and ask for help.

      You can also contact these disability rights organizations:
      • Minnesota Disability Law Center
      • Minnesota Department of Human Rights
      • Fair Housing Resources in Minnesota

      Once you find an affordable unit that will accept your voucher, there are still a few more steps. Most landlords will require you to give them a credit, criminal, and rental history check. Also, the rental unit must be inspected before the housing authority will start making payments to the landlord.

      How Much Will I Have to Pay?

      Usually you will pay between 30 and 40% of your household income. However, you may end up paying a slightly lower percentage of your income depending on whether you qualify for credits related to your disability or medical expenses. The percentage you pay includes utilities too.

      How Long Will I Get Assistance?

      The assistance you get from the Section 8 program is designed to be long-term. As long as income or other family circumstances don’t change very much, you can keep getting the assistance. Once you have a voucher, if you move to another unit, the voucher can be used in the new unit. You can keep your voucher when you move anywhere in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, as long as you move to a place where there is a local housing authority to handle your voucher for you.

      If your income goes up a lot, it will eventually affect the amount of rent that your voucher will pay. As your income rises, you will still pay between 30 and 40% of your income for rent, but because your income has gone up, the amount of rent that is left for the government to pay will keep getting smaller.

      If you eventually make enough money that 30% of your household income can cover the entire rent for your housing, the subsidy will stop. Even though the subsidy stops, the voucher stays in effect for one year so that if your income goes down again, the subsidy can start again.

      During the first year or two that your income begins to go up, there is a program that will keep the amount of rent you have to pay from also going up. This is called an Earned Income Disregard. To learn more about this program, see DB101's Housing and Work page.

      Learn more about Section 8 on Housing Benefits 101.

      Programs Related to Section 8

      Bridges Program for People with Serious Mental Illness

      If you qualify for the Section 8 program and you or someone in your household has a mental illness, the Bridges program may be able to help you. The Bridges program, funded through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, is a State of Minnesota program designed to help people with serious mental illness by providing rental assistance for housing while they are waiting for a Section 8 voucher.

      One important difference between the Section 8 voucher and the Bridges certificate is that the Bridges certificate is not portable, and often cannot be used in different counties or out of state.

      Not only will the Bridges program help you pay for housing costs while you wait for a Section 8 voucher, being a part of the Bridges program may also help shorten the time you wait.

      The Bridges program is run by the same local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and Housing Redevelopment Authorities (HRAs) that run the Section 8 program. Because the Bridges program helps people that are waiting for a Section 8 voucher, the eligibility rules are very similar to the rules for the Section 8 program itself.

      The main difference is that to become part of the Bridges program you have to have a mental illness and you have to get a referral from a mental health provider.

      If you think you might be eligible for the Bridges program, ask your mental health provider or local social service agency about a referral. Not every area in the state has a Bridges program.

      You should also apply for your local Section 8 program immediately and ask the housing authority about the Bridges program (being on a waiting list for a regular Section 8 voucher can only help you).

      Project-Based Vouchers for People with Special Needs

      An important part of the project-based Section 8 program is that many local housing authorities will save some of their project-based vouchers specifically for people with disabilities. Some project-based housing may also have supportive services already in place for people and families who are part of the program. Many local housing authorities will save some of their project-based vouchers specifically for people with disabilities.

      In project-based Section 8 housing the local housing authority has contracted directly with the owner of a housing unit to make it available for people in the Section 8 program to live in. When one of these units is empty, the housing authority will offer it to someone that is waiting for Section 8 Housing.

      Project-based rental assistance is different from the Section 8 voucher program because the owner of a rental unit and the housing authority have agreed in advance to make the unit available for a person with a Section 8 voucher.

      You will qualify for the same amount of financial assistance under the project-based program as you would qualify for with the Section 8 voucher. The application process and eligibility rules are also the same as the general Section 8 voucher program.

      A big difference between project-based rental assistance and the Section 8 voucher program is that it is not always possible to keep your rental assistance when you move. This may make it more difficult to move to a new location, because once you are in public housing, you may not be able to get a Section 8 voucher since you already have housing. This type of assistance is not as “portable” as the voucher system.

      Help with Home Buying and Mortgage Payments: Section 8 Home Ownership Program

      If you are a current Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipient or a current public housing tenant, you may be eligible for help with buying your own home. The Section 8 program can help you by providing homebuyer education and mortgage readiness counseling, and by helping with down payment and closing costs.

      People with disabilities are given very favorable eligibility terms for this program. You may want to check with your local housing authority about how eligibility is decided, to make sure all of your relevant circumstances are being considered.

      If you need this kind of support, you should think about applying. Click here for a full description of the program. If you have any questions, Chat with a Hub expert.

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      • Previous
      • Next

      Learn more

      Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

      SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

      Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

      MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

      Benefits and Work Estimator

      See how a work plan can help your situation.

      HousingHousing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
      OpenClose
      The BasicsSection 8Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)Other Housing ProgramsHousing and WorkHomeownershipProgram InteractionsExampleFAQsPitfallsNext Steps

      Housing

      • The Basics
      • Section 8
      • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
      • Other Housing Programs
      • Housing and Work
      • Homeownership
      • Program Interactions
      • Example
      • FAQs
      • Pitfalls
      • Next Steps

      Try It

        Housing

        Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)

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        The Housing Support program (formerly Group Residential Housing) helps pay for room and board in authorized locations for people with low income who have disabilities or other conditions. Housing Support may also help pay for additional services if you are not eligible for MA-Waiver programs or personal care assistance (PCA) services through MA.

        You can apply for Housing Support online using MNbenefits or fill out the Combined Application Form and turn it in to your county or tribal human services office. Note on your application that you are requesting Housing Support and the name, address, and telephone number of the location where you plan to live. If you do not mention that you are applying for Housing Support, the county may not check if you are eligible.

        This page has videos and information that introduce Housing Support eligibility rules, including how income is counted. Housing Benefits 101 also has an article about Housing Support that explains the sorts of housing settings where it can help.

        Get expert help about Housing Support

        If you need help understanding how Housing Support works, filling out an application, or finding a location authorized by Housing Support, contact your county or tribal human services office or Chat with a Hub expert.

        Watch these videos to get an introduction to Housing Support:

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        Eligibility

        To get Housing Support, you must be over age 65 or have a disabling condition. To qualify, you must have either:

        1. A General Assistance (GA) basis of eligibility, or
        2. A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) basis of eligibility.

        For both, you need to live in a location approved by Housing Support.

        The eligibility rules for Housing Support are not exactly the same as for GA or SSI. Most people who get Housing Support also get GA or SSI, but some people qualify for Housing Support even though they do not actually get GA or SSI cash benefits.

        Housing Support with a GA Basis of Eligibility

        You may qualify for Housing Support with a GA basis of eligibility if you have $10,000 or less in assets, and either:

        • Get GA benefits, or
        • Would qualify for GA benefits if your income or assets were lower. If this is the case, your income still must be below Housing Support's income limit. See DB101’s GA article for more information about GA’s eligibility requirements.

        Note: If your disability began before you turned 26, you can open an ABLE account where you can save up to $17,000 in assets each year and not have them counted by Housing Support. Learn more about ABLE accounts.

        Either way, you also must meet GA's standards for at least one of these situations:

        • Permanent or temporary illness or incapacity
        • Pending application for SSI and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
        • Medically certified as having a developmental disability or mental illness
        • Drug or alcohol addiction
        • Require services in residence
        • Learning disability impacting employment
        • Advanced age (55 or older) impacting employment
        • Unemployable.

        Note: If you get GA benefits with a different basis of eligibility that is not on this list, you will not qualify for Housing Support.

        If you are approved for Housing Support with a GA basis of eligibility, you have to apply for SSI benefits if you appear eligible. If you are approved for SSI, you will switch to having Housing Support with an SSI basis of eligibility.

        Housing Support with an SSI Basis of Eligibility

        You may qualify for Housing Support with an SSI basis of eligibility if you have $10,000 or less in assets, and either:

        • Get SSI benefits, or
        • Would qualify for SSI benefits if your income or assets were lower. If this is the case, your income still must be below Housing Support's income limit. See DB101’s SSI article for more information about SSI’s eligibility requirements.

        Note: If your disability began before you turned 26, you can open an ABLE account where you can save up to $17,000 in assets each year and not have them counted by GA or SSI. (If you get SSI benefits, they'lll be suspended if your ABLE account balance goes over $100,000.) Learn more about ABLE accounts.

        Income Limits

        Your income includes money you get from work, benefits, or other sources. You can only qualify for Housing Support if your countable income is below the highest possible combined amount that Housing Support would pay your provider for:

        • Room and board (Housing Support pays at most $1,072 per month), and
        • Services you need (Housing Support pays at most $482.84 per month).
          • Note: Most people on Housing Support get services paid for by MA-Waiver programs. Housing Support will not pay for services if you qualify for MA-Waiver programs or for PCA services through MA.

        This means your countable income limit for Housing Support may range from $1,072 per month to $1,554.84 per month, depending on the provider and whether you need and qualify for services. And for some people who get services, the limit can be even higher.

        Tip: Housing Support doesn’t count all of your income, so even if you think you have too much income to get Housing Support, you might still qualify.

        How Your Income Is Counted and What You Contribute for Your Room and Board

        Housing Support looks at your income to:

        • Figure out whether you qualify, and
        • See how much you need to contribute for your room and board each month.

        How Housing Support looks at your income depends on whether you get SSI benefits.

        If You Get SSI Benefits

        If you get SSI benefits, no matter how much you get in SSI or how much you earn, your countable income for Housing Support is $793.

        You have to pay the $793 for room and board (and services, if Housing Support helps pay for your services). You get to keep any other income you have.

        Example (Housing Support with an SSI benefit)

        Evelyn makes $1,400 per month at a job and gets $256.50 in SSI benefits, for a total gross income of $1,656.50. Her countable income is $793.

        She will have to pay the $793 each month to her housing provider. She keeps the rest of her income ($863.50) for her personal expenses.

        Your Monthly Income (Housing Support with an SSI benefit):
        Your monthly earned income$
        Plus your monthly SSI benefit+ $
        Plus other monthly unearned income+ $
        Your total income
        SSI Maximum Benefit$914.00
        Minus personal needs allowance- $121.00
        $1,072
        Countable Income = what you pay
        Housing Support provider for room and board
        You keep the rest of your income
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        If You Do Not Get SSI Benefits

        If you have a GA or SSI basis of eligibility and you do not get SSI benefits, follow these steps to see your countable income:

        1. If you have any earned income, subtract a $65 earned income exclusion from it.
          • You get to keep the $65.
        2. Divide the resulting amount of earned income by two. This is your countable earned income.
          • Less than half of your initial earned income is counted. You get to keep the rest.
        3. Add your countable earned income from step two to any unearned income you have and subtract $121 from that number.
          • The $121 is called your personal needs allowance. It is yours to spend on whatever you want or need.
        4. The final number is your countable income.
          • If you qualify for Housing Support, you have to pay the full amount of your countable income for room and board.

        Note: Other rules not discussed here may let you keep even more of your earned income and pay even less for room and board. To learn about these work incentives, Chat with a Hub expert.

        Example (Housing Support without SSI benefits)

        Anna makes $200 per month at a job and gets $750 per month in spousal support, for a total of $950 in gross income.

        Anna's Monthly Income (no SSI benefit):
        Anna's Monthly Earned Income$200.00
        Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion- $65.00
        Subtotal
        Divide by two÷ 2
        Countable Earned Income
        Unearned Income$750.00
        Plus Countable Earned Income+ 
        Minus personal needs allowance- $121.00
        $1,072
        Countable Income = what Anna pays
        Housing Support provider for room and board
        → (Capped at $1,072)
        Anna keeps the rest of her income
        Your Monthly Income (Housing Support without SSI benefits):
        Your Monthly Earned Income$
        Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion- $65.00
        Subtotal
        Divide by two÷ 2
        Countable Earned Income
        Your Monthly Unearned Income$
        Plus Countable Earned Income+ 
        Minus personal needs allowance- $121.00
        $1,072
        Countable Income = what you pay
        Housing Support provider for room and board
        → (Capped at $1,072)
        You keep the rest of your income
        Note: Your income may be too high for you to keep getting help from the Housing Support program, depending on how much it pays for services in addition to room and board. For more information, Chat with a Hub expert.
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        You Are Better Off Working

        If you work, you’ll be better off. You’ll get to keep more money for your own expenses and you’ll keep getting Housing Support benefits if you need them. Here are some important things to remember:

        • If you get Housing Support and SSI benefits at the same time, your maximum contribution for your room and board will be $793, no matter how much you earn.
        • If you get Housing Support and you don’t get SSI benefits, you can save a lot of your earned income, because Housing Support's rules count less than half of what you earn.

        The Bottom Line: It is good to work and you do not need to worry that if you qualify with an SSI basis of eligibility, you’ll lose your Housing Support or will have to spend all your work income on room and board.

        Your Housing Support Eligibility and SNAP

        Many people who get Housing Support are not eligible for SNAP (formerly Food Support/Food Stamps). However, if you are eligible for SNAP, you shouldn’t worry that if you apply for SSI, you’ll lose your full SNAP benefits. It is possible your SNAP benefits will go down, but most people should still get more than $100 per month in SNAP.

        If you started getting SSI benefits and your SNAP went below $100 a month, there may be a mistake and you should Chat with a Hub expert.

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        Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

        SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

        Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

        MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

        Benefits and Work Estimator

        See how a work plan can help your situation.

        HousingOther Housing Programs
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        Housing

        • The Basics
        • Section 8
        • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
        • Other Housing Programs
        • Housing and Work
        • Homeownership
        • Program Interactions
        • Example
        • FAQs
        • Pitfalls
        • Next Steps

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          Housing

          Other Housing Programs

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          Public Housing

          Public housing is rental housing for people with low incomes that is owned and managed by a local government agency. Public housing comes in many sizes and types, from single-family houses to large apartment buildings.

          Public housing is very affordable. Usually, you will only have to pay 30% of your household income.

          Some units are reserved only for those who are elderly or disabled.

          Learn more about Public Housing on Housing Benefits 101.

          Eligibility

          Eligibility requirements for public housing are usually the same as for the Section 8 voucher program.

          Almost all people with disabilities who are getting SSI benefits have a low enough income to qualify for public housing. Public housing is for low-income families and single people. Almost all people with disabilities who are getting SSI benefits have a low enough income to qualify for public housing.

          To qualify, it is also necessary to be a citizen of the U.S. or a noncitizen who is a permanent resident, a temporary resident alien, or who has refugee, asylee or other eligible immigration status.

          If you are eligible, the housing authority will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. As part of the application process, the housing authority will probably check your credit and your history as a tenant.

          They will also check to see if you have any criminal history. Just like with Section 8 housing, if you have had problems with a housing authority in the past, or you owe money for rent or damages to a housing authority, you will probably not be allowed to live in public housing.

          How to Apply

          Applying for public housing is a lot like applying for Section 8 housing. Public housing is operated by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), and Housing Redevelopment Authorities (HRAs).

          You apply to the local housing authority to get on their waiting list. Just like the waiting lists for Section 8 vouchers, waiting lists for public housing may be very long. Also, there might only be a few of the type or size of housing that you would like. It is a good idea to apply to several waiting lists in order to improve your chances of getting housing.

          HousingLink Resources

          HousingLink's Housing Authority Waiting List Report contains the most current information on the status of Section 8 Voucher and Public Housing waiting lists in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area. This report is updated whenever a change in waiting list status occurs. This report will also tell you which housing authorities have open waiting lists.

          HousingLink also has a list of rental housing that is currently available and affordable.

          Crisis Housing Assistance Program

          Overview

          If a person is living in Section 8 or public housing and is hospitalized for a mental illness or substance abuse treatment, the housing authority should be informed immediately so that they can recalculate the income of that person. If someone is hospitalized and can’t work, their income-based contribution to their housing should be significantly lowered. This can keep them from losing their housing.

          However, if someone does not live in a publicly funded housing unit, the Crisis Housing Assistance Program can help them pay for housing costs while they are hospitalized for mental illness. The Crisis Housing Assistance Program can help a person pay for housing while they are hospitalized for mental illness. The Crisis Housing Assistance Program gives short-term housing assistance to persons with a mental illness whose income is being used to pay an inpatient psychiatric treatment of 90 days or less.

          The program can be used by people who rent, own, have payments for mobile home lots, or who are paying in any way for their own permanent and community-based housing.

          A person is eligible for the Crisis Housing Assistance Program if s/he:
          1. Is not on a federal subsidy program;
          2. Has a serious mental illness;
          3. Has a low or moderate income, by federal standards;
          4. Is expected to be hospitalized for less than 90 days, and the treatment is:
            • Inpatient or residential mental health care
            • Inpatient or residential substance use care (with a severe mental illness) or

            • Partial hospitalization (PHP);

          5. Has no other way to pay for housing; and
          6. Needs help in keeping current housing.

          What is Covered

          The Crisis Housing Assistance Programs covers housing expenses that you were previously paying, but are no longer able to pay, because your income is being used to pay for treatment. The funds must be used to help you keep community-based housing. The payments are sent directly to person or agency that you owe them to, like your landlord, mortgage company, or utility company.

          Expenses can include payments towards:
          • Rent
          • Mortgage
          • Utilities (this includes heating fuel, electricity, water, sewer, garbage, and basic traditional telephone services)

          How to Apply

          In order to apply for the Crisis Housing Assistance Program, you must have already exhausted all other ways of paying for your housing expenses.

          You can apply online, or by using a paper form and emailing or faxing it in. Your hospital or treatment facility can help you apply. You will need to include:

          • Proof of your income, like screenshots of your bank information and direct deposit payments from your employer, unemployment, SSI, or other income

          • A list of how much and who needs to be paid, like your landlord, utility company, or phone company (with their complete address and account information)

          • A letter from a medical provider or paperwork showing your diagnosis of a serious mental illness .

          If you need help, call 952-915-3698 and they will call you back within 48 hours. Learn more about the Crisis Housing Assistance Program and how to apply.

          Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Payments

          Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) is a state program that gives a monthly cash payment to people who are aged, blind, or disabled, and who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Some people who don't get SSI may still be eligible for MSA if their income is low enough and they meet other program requirements.

          For example, if you get SSDI that is less than $995 a month and your assets are below $10,000, then you probably qualify for MSA.

          MSA payments can help you pay for room and board. People getting MA-Waiver or Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services may be eligible for an additional MSA cash supplement to their SSI, to live independently in the community in non-licensed or registered rental housing.

          The MSA benefit you get depends on your living arrangements, the amount you receive in SSI or SSDI (if you get an SSI or SSDI benefit), and whether or not you have any special needs expenses. In 2023, the monthly MSA benefit for most people is $81 ($111 for couples).

          To learn more about the benefits and eligibility requirements of the MSA program, read DB101's MSA section.

          To apply for MSA, visit or call your county or tribal human services office.

          Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Housing Assistance

          Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Housing Assistance can give additional funds to help you stay in your home or make the transition from an institution or mental health program to housing in the community.

          MSA Housing Assistance offers $421 per month. Every year, this amount is adjusted on July 1st, to be half of Supplemental Security Income's Federal Benefit Rate (FBR).

          If you are eligible, the funds will be added to your MSA payment.

          To qualify for this program, you must be:
          1. Eligible for MSA;
          2. Under age 65;
          3. Have monthly shelter costs more than 40% of gross monthly income; AND
            • Be relocating from an institution or Housing Support (formerly GRH) setting into your own place in the community OR
            • Be eligible for self-directed MA PCA services, OR
            • Be a waiver recipient living in their own place.

          MSA Housing Assistance can be used to pay the initial costs of moving into community housing such as a rental deposit and utility and phone set-up costs.

          Learn more about MSA Housing Assistance on Housing Benefits 101 and watch the below video.

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          Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

          If you or a member of your household is living with HIV/AIDS, you may be able to get help with housing costs through the HOPWA program.

          Local housing authorities give rental help to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, through the HOPWA program. The State of Minnesota also has HOPWA funds available to give short-term rent, mortgage, and utility payment help.

          Learn more about Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) on Housing Benefits 101.

          To get housing help through a local or state HOPWA program:
          1. At least one person in your household must have AIDS or a related disease (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or HIV infection).
          2. Your household must have low or moderate income.

          To Apply

          To get HOPWA rental help you should ask your HIV case manager for a referral.

          Learn more about HOPWA.

          Emergency Rent Help

          Crisis Housing Assistance Program

          The Crisis Housing Assistance Program can help you pay for housing costs, if you are hospitalized for mental illness or substance abuse treatment, and you are living in your own home or a rental unit that is not part of a government assistance program.

          Your hospital or treatment facility can help you apply for the Crisis Housing Assistance Program. See the full program description here.

          Section 8 and Public Housing Tenants

          If you are living in Section 8 or public housing and you are having trouble paying your rent, contact your local Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) or Public Housing Authority (PHA) for rental assistance.

          Learn more about the Crisis Housing Assistance Program, Section 8, and other programs on Housing Benefits 101.

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          Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

          SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

          Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

          MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

          Benefits and Work Estimator

          See how a work plan can help your situation.

          HousingHousing and Work
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          Housing

          • The Basics
          • Section 8
          • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
          • Other Housing Programs
          • Housing and Work
          • Homeownership
          • Program Interactions
          • Example
          • FAQs
          • Pitfalls
          • Next Steps

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            Housing

            Housing and Work

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            Earned Income Disregard

            In order to help support people going to work, many public and subsidized housing programs have rules that allow tenants who start working to pay the same amount of rent for awhile after they start work. These rules were created for people who are poor or have a disability, to encourage them to look for work.

            If you are thinking about getting a job, you may be able to get an Earned Income Disregard (EID) to help you start working without paying more rent.

            An EID means that if you start working after being unemployed, the amount you pay in rent will stay the same for a certain amount of time, even though you earn more money.

            How Does it Work?

            For the first 12 months after you start working, income from your job is not counted towards your rent, so the amount you pay in rent stays the same. In the second 12 months, your housing authority will only count half of your total work earnings towards rent.

            For example, if you earn $1,000 each month, in the first 12 months the housing authority can’t count any of this income when calculating your portion of the rent. In the second 12 months, the housing authority can only count $500 of your earnings per month when calculating your rent.

            You can qualify for an Earned Income Disregard (EID) if:

            You have a disability, and you participate in one of the following housing programs:

            • Public Housing
            • HOME Investment Partnerships Program
            • Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
            • Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

            In any of these programs, your rent usually increases when your income increases. With the EID, the amount you pay in rent is not increased for the first 12 months after your income increases (due to work). Only 50% of the income increase is counted in calculating rent for the second 12 months. This great work incentive can only be used once during your lifetime, during the 24-month period that begins from the first month of exclusion.

            To qualify you must be able to show that you are a person with a disability and any one of the following:
            • Before you got your job, you were unemployed for one or more years; or
            • You earned less than $4,210 over the 12 months prior to getting your job; or
            • You received welfare benefits or participated in a Welfare-to-Work program in the six months before getting your job; or
            • You got your job while you were in a job training or self-sufficiency program.

            If you live in public housing, any household member is eligible, regardless of disability, as long as they meet one of the four conditions above.

            Note: The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority has different EID rules. If you get your housing assistance from the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, click here to contact them about the EID.

            Learn more about Earned Income Disregard (EID) on Housing Benefits 101.

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            Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

            SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

            Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

            MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

            Benefits and Work Estimator

            See how a work plan can help your situation.

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            Housing

            • The Basics
            • Section 8
            • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
            • Other Housing Programs
            • Housing and Work
            • Homeownership
            • Program Interactions
            • Example
            • FAQs
            • Pitfalls
            • Next Steps

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              Housing

              Homeownership

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              Section 8 Homeownership Voucher Program

              The basic idea of the Section 8 Homeownership Voucher Program is to use the money from a regular Section 8 rental voucher to help a family buy a home or meet monthly homeownership expenses.

              Not all housing authorities offer the homeownership option as part of their voucher program.

              In order to use the program, you have to have a Section 8 voucher. If you do not currently have a voucher, you must go through the same application process as if you wanted to apply for a Section 8 rental voucher.

              Once you have a voucher, and if your housing authority offers the Section 8 homeownership program, you can begin looking for a housing unit to buy.

              Once you find a housing unit to buy, the housing authority will make the monthly homeownership assistance payment for you. The housing authority may make the payment to the lender directly or to your household.

              The amount of the subsidy for the homeownership program is the same amount as your rental voucher would have been.

              Eligibility

              The program is administered by local housing authorities. You must be a current voucher program participant, or eligible for admission for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. No member of your household can currently own a home, or have owned one in the last three years.

              If the family includes a person with a disability, the housing authority may determine that the use of the homeownership option is necessary as a reasonable accommodation. The housing authority may determine that the use of the homeownership option is necessary as a reasonable accommodation.

              There is a full-time employment requirement for families that are not disabled or elderly. This does not apply to disabled families. Disabled families can meet income requirements through the money they get from monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

              If any adult family member previously received homeownership assistance and then defaulted on the mortgage, the family will not be eligible for homeownership assistance.

              In order to be eligible, you must attend and complete a homeownership counseling program that is required by the housing authority.

              Finding a Home

              The housing authority may have time limits for you to find and buy a home. But the housing authority may not steer or restrict your search to certain sellers or neighborhoods.

              Before you finish buying your home, the housing authority will conduct a housing quality standard inspection to make sure that the condition of the home is decent, safe, and sanitary. The unit must also be inspected by an independent professional that you choose and hire.

              Also, before you finish buying the home, you must give a contract of sale to the housing authority. Be sure to check with the housing authority about specific details that must be included in the contract.

              A housing authority cannot require that you use a specific lender, but it may make requirements about lending terms and the price of the home you can buy. The housing authority can also require that you follow certain rules in order to continue to receive assistance.

              However, for a disabled family, as long as you do all the things that the housing authority requires, there is no time limit to how long the assistance can last.

              Foreclosure Prevention

              Overview

              The first step to getting help is to call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

              If you are having trouble paying your mortgage, there are several programs that can help you. The first step to getting help is to call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673). This is a hotline that is available to any homeowner in America having trouble paying their mortgage. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

              When you call 1-888-995-HOPE you will get absolutely free foreclosure prevention counseling by expert counselors at HUD-approved agencies. When you call you will get help immediately - the counselors themselves answer the phone.

              Other Resources

              There are many resources in Minnesota that can help you prevent foreclosure:
              • The Minnesota Home Ownership Center is an excellent resource for finding information about keeping your home. A great way to start learning about foreclosure is to watch the video presentation on their website.
              • The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency has state foreclosure resources with local foreclosure counseling services.
              • Neighborhood Works America is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving homeownership and preventing foreclosure.
              • Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Minnesota has a list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Minnesota.
              • HUD also provides a Guide to Avoiding Foreclosures.
              • Making Home Affordable is a federal government website that explains programs that suport homeowners.
              • 995Hope is a national nonprofit that helps you understand your options and find resources.
              • The HousingLink website provides information for renters dealing with foreclosure.

              Individual Development Accounts

              Overview

              Minnesotans who are considered low income can build assets to purchase a home using an Individual Development Account (IDA), operated by Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota (FAIM).

              Participants who contribute a specified monthly amount (up to a maximum of $1,008/year) receive a matching amount from state and federal funds of $3 for every $1 you contribute.

              If you participate for the full two years of the program, and you contribute the maximum amount ($1,008/year x 2 years = $2,016) with the government match ($2,016 x 3 = $6,048), you could save up to $8,064.

              Eligibility

              To participate in an IDA, you must have:

              • Low income
              • No bankruptcies, defaulted student loans, or tax liens
              • Earned income

              You must use IDA funds for:

              • Education (tuition and fees)
              • Small business start up or expansion
              • A home purchase (down payment or closing).

              While in the IDA program, you must:

              • Attend required classes in financial management, as well as classes that specifically relate to your use of the funds, such as first time homebuyer, business development or career development courses.

              Learn more about home ownership on Housing Benefits 101.

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              Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

              SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

              Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

              MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

              Benefits and Work Estimator

              See how a work plan can help your situation.

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              Housing

              • The Basics
              • Section 8
              • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
              • Other Housing Programs
              • Housing and Work
              • Homeownership
              • Program Interactions
              • Example
              • FAQs
              • Pitfalls
              • Next Steps

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                Housing

                Program Interactions

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                SSI

                Although there is a limit to how much income you can have to qualify for the Section 8 program, there is no restriction on the source of your income. Therefore, you can collect SSI and get Section 8 assistance. In fact, if SSI is your main source of income, it is very likely you will also qualify for Section 8 housing assistance.

                SSDI

                Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is wage replacement income for people who have paid into a federal insurance program while they were working. There are no asset limits to qualify for the SSDI program and the amount of money SSDI pays can be much higher than that paid by SSI. Therefore, it is possible that a person who gets SSDI payments may have an income that is too high to qualify for Section 8 rental assistance.

                Medical Assistance (MA)

                MA has income and asset limits similar to SSI for recipients who are disabled. If you are eligible to get MA, it is likely that you will be able to get Section 8 rental assistance.

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                Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

                SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

                Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

                MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

                Benefits and Work Estimator

                See how a work plan can help your situation.

                HousingExample
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                Housing

                • The Basics
                • Section 8
                • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
                • Other Housing Programs
                • Housing and Work
                • Homeownership
                • Program Interactions
                • Example
                • FAQs
                • Pitfalls
                • Next Steps

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                  Housing

                  Example

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                  David’s Story

                  After David was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago, he moved back home with his parents. About a year ago, he was doing well and he decided he wanted to find an apartment of his own. He found a job and, with some help from his parents, he was able to move into his own place.

                  Unfortunately, after a few months on his own, his condition took a turn for the worse and he was hospitalized.

                  Crisis Housing Assistance Program

                  Because David was not able to work while he was in the hospital receiving inpatient psychiatric services, he was worried that he would lose his apartment. Fortunately, the hospital staff helped him apply online for the Crisis Housing Assistance Program. David's application included:

                  • Proof of his income.
                  • A list of how much needed to be paid to his landlord, utility service, and phone company, with complete addresses for each one (with account numbers if needed).
                  • A letter from the doctor confirming David's diagnosis and his need for treatment.

                  David was approved for the Crisis Housing Assistance Program, which sent payments directly to his landlord, utility company, and phone company.

                  However, even though it seemed at first that David’s stay in the hospital would be short, he ended up staying for longer than 90 days. After 90 days, the Crisis Housing Assistance Program stopped paying his housing costs, and he decided to give up his apartment.

                  Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

                  After six months in the hospital, David was doing really well. He couldn’t wait to get back into an apartment of his own, but he was not sure how he would be able to pay for it, since he didn’t think he would be able to work any time soon.

                  Luckily, his case manager had helped him apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) shortly after he arrived at the hospital. He was eligible for SSI because of his disability, and his limited income and assets.

                  Once he started getting SSI, David was able to get Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) too. MSA is a state program that gives a monthly cash payment to people who are aged, blind or disabled who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

                  When David decided he was ready to move back to an apartment in the community, he knew that he would be able to depend on monthly payments from SSI and the MSA supplement. Money was still tight though, and his case worker suggested that he apply for a Section 8 housing voucher to help with his housing costs.

                  Section 8 Housing Vouchers and the Bridges Program for People with Serious Mental Illness

                  Even though his local housing authority put him on a long waiting list for a Section 8 voucher, David was able to get help with his rent right away through the Bridges Program for People with Serious Mental Illness. The Bridges program is a State of Minnesota program designed to help people with serious mental illness, by giving money for housing while they are waiting for a Section 8 voucher.

                  Once he became part of the Bridges program, David’s rent became much more manageable. Before participating in the program, he paid more than half of his income for rent. But once he became part of the program, he only paid 30% of his monthly income in rent, and the State paid the rest of his rent directly to his landlord.

                  Section 8 Housing Voucher

                  The voucher can last as long as he needs it, so he feels confident that he has enough support in place to live on his own.After a few months, David’s turn came on the local housing authority’s Section 8 waiting list. He got a letter from the housing authority, asking him to come in for a screening interview.

                  During the interview, he was asked questions to make sure that he met the eligibility requirements for the program. Since the requirements for the Bridges program are almost the same as those for the Section 8 program, David didn’t have a problem qualifying.

                  After he passed the screening interview, he attended a meeting at the housing authority called a Section 8 Briefing. The Briefing gave him information about how the Section 8 program works and how to find rental housing. During the Briefing, David learned that he could use his voucher to help pay his rent at his current apartment.

                  Since he likes where he lives, he decided to stay. The voucher can last as long as he needs it, so he feels confident that he has enough support in place to live on his own.

                  Earned Income Disregard

                  Although David isn’t working now, he knows he wants to have a job in the future. He found out that when he does start working, he will be able to use the Earned Income Disregard (EID), which is a work incentive that allows Section 8 voucher holders with disabilities who are starting work to pay the same amount of rent for the first 12 months after they start working.

                  This work incentive helped David feel more secure about going back to work, since he knows the amount he has to pay towards his rent won’t change at all for a year.

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                  Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

                  SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

                  Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

                  MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

                  Benefits and Work Estimator

                  See how a work plan can help your situation.

                  HousingFAQs
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                  Housing

                  • The Basics
                  • Section 8
                  • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
                  • Other Housing Programs
                  • Housing and Work
                  • Homeownership
                  • Program Interactions
                  • Example
                  • FAQs
                  • Pitfalls
                  • Next Steps

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                    Housing

                    FAQs

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                    What is the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program?OpenClose

                    Section 8 is a housing program funded by the federal government that helps low income people pay for privately owned rental housing. The largest part of the Section 8 program is the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

                    Through the Section 8 program, individuals and families receive a “voucher” that can be used to pay part of the cost of their housing. The program allows people to choose where they want to live and what type of housing will be best for them.

                    When you are part of the program, you usually pay 30% of your monthly household income for rent and the government pays the rest directly to the landlord.

                    The program is run by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) or Housing Redevelopment Authorities (HRAs). To find the housing authority that runs the program in your area, you can use these resources:

                    • Minnesota public housing authorities
                    • HousingLink map

                    Besides income, what factors are important for getting Section 8 housing?OpenClose

                    Several of the housing authorities in Minnesota keep some of their Section 8 vouchers just for people with disabilities.

                    Other things that may help you qualify include:

                    • Being age 62 or older
                    • Being a U.S. Armed Services veteran, widow, or widower
                    • Working more than 42 hours per week
                    • Being homeless
                    • Currently residing in a shelter
                    • Having children

                    What are project-based vouchers?OpenClose

                    In Project-Based Section 8 housing the local housing authority has contracted directly with the owner of a housing unit to make it available for people in the Section 8 program to live in. When one of these units is empty, the housing authority will offer it to someone that is waiting for Section 8 housing.

                    Project-based rental assistance is different from the Section 8 voucher program because the owner of a rental unit and the housing authority have agreed in advance to make the unit available for a person with a Section 8 voucher.

                    Project-based rental assistance provides the same amount of financial assistance as the voucher program does. The application procedures and eligibility requirements are also the same as the general Section 8 voucher program.

                    A big difference between project-based rental assistance and the Section 8 voucher program is that it is not always possible to keep your rental assistance when you move.

                    How do I apply for Section 8 housing?OpenClose

                    To apply for a Section 8 housing voucher, contact the housing authority in an area you would like to live and fill out their application:

                    • Minnesota public housing authorities
                    • HousingLink map

                    If your disability makes any part of the application process difficult for you, you are entitled to ask the housing authority for a reasonable accommodation that will help you have a chance to participate in the program. Depending on your circumstances, reasonable accommodations may include help filling out applications, extra time to fill out applications or find rental housing, and assistance finding housing that will meet your specific needs.

                    Should I apply to more than one housing authority?OpenClose

                    Yes. In most areas there are not enough vouchers to help everyone that wants one. After you fill out an application, you will probably be put on a waiting list. In order to shorten the time that you have to wait, you should apply to several housing authorities in the general area that you would like to live.

                    What should I do if the housing authority waiting list for my area is closed?OpenClose

                    If a housing authority has a waiting list, they will only accept applications if the waiting list is “open”. Open just means that they will allow you to add your name to the list.

                    If the waiting list for your local housing authority is closed, you can find out which other housing authorities have open waiting lists at HousingLink's Housing Authority Waiting List.

                    What should I do if I move or change my phone number after I apply to a waiting list?OpenClose

                    If your contact information changes you must notify the housing authority immediately. If the housing authority is unable to reach you to confirm that you are still interested in housing, or if they can’t contact you when your turn on the list comes, you may be taken off the list completely.

                    What kind of apartment can I get with my voucher?OpenClose

                    When you receive a voucher, the housing authority will provide you with guidelines on the size and cost of housing you can rent. If you need a housing unit with more bedrooms, the amount that the housing authority will pay for rent will be higher.

                    The number of bedrooms that the housing authority allows you will depend on how many people are in your household and their age, sex, and relationship to each other. Depending on the medical conditions and disabilities of household members, more rooms may be provided.

                    For example, a common accommodation is an increase in bedroom size because of the need for a live-in aide or overnight support staff.

                    There are many different types of housing that you can rent with a voucher. In addition to houses and apartments, you can use a voucher to help pay for group homes, shared housing, congregate housing, single room occupancy units, and assisted living placements.

                    If you already have an apartment you like, you may also be able to use the voucher to help pay for it.

                    What is the Bridges program?OpenClose

                    If you qualify for the Section 8 program, and you or someone in your household has a mental illness, the Bridges Program for People with Serious Mental Illness may be able to help you. The Bridges program is a State of Minnesota program designed to help people with serious mental illness by providing rental assistance for housing while they are waiting for a Section 8 voucher.

                    The Bridges program is run by the same local PHAs and HRAs that run the Section 8 program. Because the Bridges program helps people that are waiting for a Section 8 voucher, the eligibility rules are very similar to the rules for the Section 8 program itself.

                    The main difference is that to become part of the Bridges program you have to have a mental illness and you have to get a referral from a mental health provider.

                    What is the Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) program?OpenClose

                    The Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) program helps pay for room and board in authorized locations for people with low income who have disabilities or other conditions. Housing Support may also help pay for additional services if you are not eligible for MA-Waiver programs or personal care assistance (PCA) services through MA.

                    To get Housing Support, you must be over age 65 or have a disabling condition. To qualify, you must have either:

                    1. A General Assistance (GA) basis of eligibility, or
                    2. A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) basis of eligibility.

                    For both, you need to live in a location approved by Housing Support.

                    The eligibility rules for Housing Support are not exactly the same as for GA or SSI. Most people who get Housing Support also get GA or SSI, but some people qualify for Housing Support even though they do not actually get GA or SSI cash benefits. Read more about the Housing Support eligibility rules.

                    You can apply for Housing Support online using MNbenefits or fill out the Combined Application Form and turn it in to your county or tribal human services office. Note on your application that you are requesting Housing Support and the name, address, and telephone number of the location where you plan to live. If you do not mention that you are applying for Housing Support, the county may not check if you are eligible. For help applying, contact your county or tribal human services office or Chat with a Hub expert.

                    What is public housing?OpenClose

                    Public housing is rental housing for low-income people, which is owned and managed by a local government agency.

                    Eligibility requirements are usually the same as for the Section 8 voucher program. You must have a low household income. You also have to be a citizen or a noncitizen with eligible immigration status. Finally, you cannot have had problems with federally-funded housing programs, such as being evicted or committing fraud.

                    Public housing is operated by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), and Housing Redevelopment Authorities (HRAs). You apply to the local housing authority to get on their waiting list. Waiting lists for public housing may be very long. Also, there might only be a few of the type or size of housing that you would like. It is a good idea to apply to several waiting lists in order to improve your chances of getting housing.

                    To find the housing authority that runs the public housing program in your area, you can use these resources:

                    • Minnesota public housing authorities
                    • HousingLink map

                    What is Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)?OpenClose

                    Local housing authorities provide rental assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families through the HOPWA program. The State of Minnesota also has HOPWA funds available to provide short-term rent, mortgage, and utility payment assistance.

                    To receive housing assistance through a local or state HOPWA program:

                    1. At least one individual in your household must have AIDS or a related disease (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or HIV infection.)
                    2. Your household must have low or moderate income.

                    To get HOPWA rental assistance you should ask your HIV case manager for a referral.

                    Who can help me if I am in danger of losing my rental housing?OpenClose

                    If you are participating in the Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) or Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) programs, additional funds may be available to you through the MSA program. To request help through the MSA program, contact your county or tribal human services office.

                    The Crisis Housing Assistance Program can help you pay for housing costs if you are hospitalized for mental illness or substance abuse treatment, and you are living in your own home, or a rental unit that is not part of a government assistance program.

                    Your hospital or treatment facility can help you apply for the Crisis Housing Assistance Program. If you are approved, the payments are sent directly to person or agency you owe them to, like your landlord, mortgage company, or utility company.

                    If I start working will I lose my Section 8 or Public Housing?OpenClose

                    No. In order to help people to start working, many public and subsidized housing programs have rules that allow tenants who start working to pay the same amount of rent for awhile after they start work. If you are thinking about getting a job, you may be able to get an Earned Income Disregard (EID) to help you start working without paying more rent.

                    What is an Earned Income Disregard (EID)?OpenClose

                    An Earned Income Disregard means that if you start working after being unemployed, your portion of your Section 8 or public housing rent will stay the same for a certain amount of time, even though you earn more money.

                    How does an Earned Income Disregard (EID) work?OpenClose

                    For the first 12 months after you start working, income from your job is not counted towards your rent, so the amount you pay in rent stays the same. In the second 12 months, your housing authority will count only half of your total work earnings towards your portion of the rent.

                    For example, if you earn $1000 each month, in the first 12 months, the housing authority can’t count any of this income when calculating your rent. In the second 12 months, the housing authority can only count $500 of your earnings per month when calculating your rent.

                    This is a great work incentive, but it is limited to a lifetime 48-month period starting from the first month of exclusion.

                    Note: The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority has different EID rules. If the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority provides your housing assistance, click here to contact them and ask about the EID rules.

                    Who qualifies for an EID?OpenClose

                    You can qualify for an EID if you have a disability and participate in any of the following housing programs:

                    • Public Housing
                    • HOME Investment Partnerships Program
                    • Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
                    • Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

                    To qualify, you must be able to show that you are a person with a disability and any one of the following:

                    • Before you got your job, you were unemployed for one or more years; or
                    • You earned less than $4,210 over the 12 months prior to getting your job; or
                    • You received welfare benefits or participated in a Welfare-to-Work program in the six months before getting your job; or
                    • You got your job while you were in a job training or self-sufficiency program.

                    If you live in public housing, any household member is eligible, regardless of disability, as long as they meet one of the four conditions above.

                    Can the Section 8 program help me buy a house or pay for my current house?OpenClose

                    Yes. If you are a current Section 8 voucher recipient or a current public housing tenant, you may be eligible for assistance in buying your own home. The Section 8 program can help you by providing homebuyer education, mortgage readiness counseling, and down payment and closing cost assistance.

                    The basic idea of the Section 8 Homeownership Program is to use the money from a regular Section 8 rental voucher to help a family buy a home or meet monthly homeownership expenses.

                    Not all housing authorities offer the homeownership option as part of their voucher program.

                    In order to use the program, you have to have a Section 8 voucher. If you do not currently have a voucher, you must go through the same application process as if you wanted to apply for a Section 8 rental voucher. Once you have a voucher, and if your housing authority offers the Section 8 Homeownership Program, you can begin looking for a housing unit to buy.

                    Once you find a housing unit to buy, the housing authority will make the monthly homeownership assistance payment for you. The housing authority may make the payment to the lender directly or to your household.

                    The amount of the subsidy for the homeownership program is the same amount as your rental voucher would have been.

                    Who can help me if I am having trouble making my mortgage payments?OpenClose

                    If you are having trouble paying your mortgage, or you are already facing foreclosure, it can be very hard to figure out what you should do. There are several programs that can help you. The first step to getting help is to call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

                    1-888-995-HOPE is a hotline that is available to any homeowner in America having trouble paying their mortgage. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

                    When you call 1-888-995-HOPE you will receive absolutely free foreclosure prevention counseling by expert counselors at HUD-approved agencies. When you call you will get help immediately - the counselors themselves answer the phone.

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                    Learn more

                    Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

                    SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

                    Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

                    MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

                    Benefits and Work Estimator

                    See how a work plan can help your situation.

                    HousingPitfalls
                    OpenClose
                    The BasicsSection 8Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)Other Housing ProgramsHousing and WorkHomeownershipProgram InteractionsExampleFAQsPitfallsNext Steps

                    Housing

                    • The Basics
                    • Section 8
                    • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
                    • Other Housing Programs
                    • Housing and Work
                    • Homeownership
                    • Program Interactions
                    • Example
                    • FAQs
                    • Pitfalls
                    • Next Steps

                    Try It

                      Housing

                      Frequent Pitfalls

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                      Not responding to waiting list update letters

                      Housing authorities will usually place you on a waiting list when you first apply for a Section 8 voucher or public housing. While you are on the waiting list it is very important that you respond to all letters from the housing authority. They may write to you to ask for more information or to ask if you are still interested in housing.

                      Because people can apply to many different housing authorities and be on many waiting lists at once, most housing authorities update their list often to make sure that everyone on it still wants a voucher. If you fail to respond to an update letter from a housing authority, they will probably think you are no longer interested in a voucher and take you off the waiting list.

                      Not updating contact information while you are on a waiting list

                      While you are on a waiting list it is very important to tell the housing authority about any changes in your contact information. If the housing authority is unable to reach you to confirm that you are still interested in housing, or if they cannot contact you when your turn on the list comes, you may be taken off the list completely.

                      Only applying to one waiting list

                      In most areas there are not enough Section 8 vouchers or public housing units to help everyone that needs housing. When you apply to one of these programs, the housing authority will probably put you on a waiting list.

                      Some areas have very long waiting lists. In order to speed up the process of getting housing, you should apply to as many housing authorities as possible.

                      Not asking for help if you are having difficulty applying for, or participating in, a housing program

                      If your disability makes any part of the application process difficult for you, you are entitled to ask for a reasonable accommodation that will help you have a chance to participate in the program. Depending on your circumstances, reasonable accommodations may include help filling out applications, extra time to fill out applications or find rental housing, and assistance finding housing that will meet your specific needs.

                      You should tell the housing authority about any difficulty you are having with applying to or using Section 8 or Public Housing programs, and ask them to provide assistance.

                      Not returning to work because you fear losing your Section 8 subsidy

                      In order to help people start working, many public and subsidized housing programs have rules that allow tenants who start working to pay the same amount of rent for awhile after they start work.

                      If you are thinking about getting a job, you may be able to get an Earned Income Disregard (EID) to help you start working without paying more rent. An Earned Income Disregard means that if you start working after being unemployed, the amount you pay in rent will stay the same for a certain amount of time, even though you earn more money.

                      If you have an EID, for the first 12 months after you start working, income from your job is not counted towards your rent, so your portion of the rent stays the same. In the second 12 months, your housing authority will count only half of your total work earnings towards rent.

                      For example, if you earn $1000 each month, in the first 12 months, the housing authority can’t count any of this income when calculating your rent. In the second 12 months, the housing authority can only count $500 of your earnings per month when calculating your rent.

                      After the period of the EID, if you are earning enough money that your subsidy ends, you still have a safety net: the voucher remains in effect for one year, so that if your income goes down, the subsidy can start again.

                      Not asking for help when faced with a housing emergency

                      If you are having trouble paying your rent and you are participating in the Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) or Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) programs, additional funds may be available to help you. To find out more, contact your county or tribal human services office or Chat with a Hub expert.

                      The Crisis Housing Assistance Program can help you pay for housing costs, if you are hospitalized for mental illness or substance abuse treatment, and you are living in your own home or a rental unit that is not part of a government subsidy program. Your hospital or treatment facility can help you apply for the program. If you are approved, the payments are sent directly to person or agency you owe them to, like your landlord, mortgage company, or utility company.

                      If you are living in Section 8 or public housing and you are having trouble paying your rent, contact your local Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) or Public Housing Authority (PHA) for rental assistance.

                      Not seeking expert help when threatened with foreclosure

                      If you are having trouble paying your mortgage, or you are already facing foreclosure, it can be very hard to figure out what you should do. There are several programs that can help you. The first step to getting help is to call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

                      1-888-995-HOPE is a hotline that is available to any homeowner in America having trouble paying their mortgage. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

                      When you call 1-888-995-HOPE you will receive absolutely free foreclosure prevention counseling by expert counselors at HUD-approved agencies. When you call you will get help immediately - the counselors themselves answer the phone.

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                      Add to favoritesAdd to favorites
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                      • Previous
                      • Next

                      Learn more

                      Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

                      SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

                      Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

                      MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

                      Benefits and Work Estimator

                      See how a work plan can help your situation.

                      HousingNext Steps
                      OpenClose
                      The BasicsSection 8Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)Other Housing ProgramsHousing and WorkHomeownershipProgram InteractionsExampleFAQsPitfallsNext Steps

                      Housing

                      • The Basics
                      • Section 8
                      • Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing)
                      • Other Housing Programs
                      • Housing and Work
                      • Homeownership
                      • Program Interactions
                      • Example
                      • FAQs
                      • Pitfalls
                      • Next Steps

                      Try It

                        Housing

                        Next Steps

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                        Learn More

                        Minnesota Department of Human Services

                        To learn more about housing:

                        • Housing Benefits 101 (HB101) has excellent information on most housing programs offered in Minnesota.
                        • HousingLink provides information on available housing in Minnesota's Twin Cities Metro Area and contact information for local housing authorities.
                        • Get information about what the Crisis Housing Assistance Program offers and how to apply.
                        • Click here for foreclosure counseling services and related assistance.
                        • If you can't find what you're looking for or have questions, Chat with a Hub expert
                        • Learn more about Housing Benefits on Housing Benefits 101.

                        Apply for Housing Assistance

                        To apply for Section 8 housing programs or Public Housing, contact local public housing authorities or Housing Redevelopment Authorities (HRAs). Or, if you live in the Twin Cities Metro Area, you can check HousingLink's map.

                        To apply for Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA), go to MNbenefits or file a paper application.

                        To find out if you are eligible for the Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) program, contact your county or tribal human services office. Before you can begin getting Housing Support funds, the county human service agency must approve your placement in a Housing Support setting.

                        To get HOPWA rental assistance you should ask your HIV case manager for a referral. Learn more about HOPWA.

                        Learn About Work and Benefits - Chat with a Hub expert!

                        When you have questions or need help, use Chat with a Hub expert. This feature connects you to a DB101 Expert using live chat, phone, or secure email. Anything you talk about is private.

                        Chat with a Hub expert to:

                        • Understand your current benefits
                        • Get help using DB101.org
                        • Connect to resources
                        • Plan next steps

                        Free Legal Help

                        Minnesota Disability Law CenterThe Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) provides free assistance to people with civil legal issues related to their disability. Call the MDLC Intake Line at 1-612-334-5970 (Twin Cities metro area), 1-800-292-4150 (Greater Minnesota), or 1-612-332-4668 (TTY).

                        Find Local Services

                        You can use MinnesotaHelp.info to find social services near you, from benefits applications to job counseling.

                        MinnesotaHelp.info

                        Try these searches:

                        • Low Income/Subsidized Rental Housing
                        • General Counseling (Mental Health Care)
                        • Benefits Counseling and Screening
                        • Residential Placement Services for People with Disabilities
                        • Group Residences for Adults with Disabilities
                        • Home Barrier Evaluation/Removal Services
                        • Mortgage Payment Assistance
                        • Rent Payment Assistance
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                        Add to favoritesAdd to favorites
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                        • Previous

                        Learn more

                        Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

                        SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

                        Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

                        MSA is a state program that helps many people who get SSI.

                        Benefits and Work Estimator

                        See how a work plan can help your situation.