In the June 29, 2021, installment of Working Together, we reported that the Minnesota State Legislature passed a housing bill that phases out the state’s eviction moratorium over the coming months. And yesterday, a Star Tribune story revealed that tens of thousands of Minnesota renters still have past due balances.
There is rental assistance available through RentHelpMN and the good news is that no eligible household which has applied for funding through this program (even if their application is still pending) can be evicted before June 1, 2022 “when all lease termination and eviction protections are lifted.” However, those who are eligible for rental assistance and do not apply can, in fact, be evicted soon (landlords must provide at least 15-days’ notice before filing paperwork for non-payment between now and October 12, 2021).
Therefore, it is vital that individuals and families in need of emergency rental assistance apply immediately. The Minnesota Housing Agency has created an important infographic that can be accessed online at https://www.mnhousing.gov/sites/np/covid19emergencyrentalassistance, and which also accompanies this blog. This infographic provides Minnesota renters with details on their rights and responsibilities, how to apply for rental assistance, dates that they need to know, how to access legal aid, and other critical information to help them stay safely in their homes.
Eligible households can received financial assistance for past due rent and utility bills dating all the way back to March 13, 2020, the day that a state of emergency was first declared in Minnesota due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To apply for rental assistance, please visit https://www.renthelpmn.org/ or call 211. And, for emergency legal assistance, please visit https://www.lawhelpmn.org/.
