MINNESOTA AFFORDABLE RENTALS

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU CONTACT US:

DISCLAIMER

Homeless To Independence Inc. is a 501©3 non-profit organization. We are self supporting and we do NOT receive any government grant funding what-so-ever to pay bills for anyone in any situation. We do not give away money. We do not give out loans against any money.

This ministry is supported with generous financial donations that are used to help keep us functioning. Our purpose is to help supply individuals and families with personal needs such as food, toiletries, clothing, household items and baby/adult diapers/wipes both locally and to areas affected by disasters . At this time, we do not offer any shelter or transitional housing services. Again, we DO NOT pay any bills. We DO NOT pay any rents or mortgages.

If you are actually homeless, or about to be homeless or need emergency assistance of any kind, DIAL “211” from a land-line telephone. This will not work from a cell telephone. Tell the receiver your situation and what you need. They will give you information specific for the location you are currently in plus any referrals you may need. They have the most up to the minute information for your specific area. Dialing “211” will get you help and much more info than this office can provide. Homeless to Independence wants you to have all the information you need to get through the situation you are in.

Don’t have a land-line telephone??? Go to your local police department, library, or house of worship and ask to use their land-line telephone. They may even make the call on your behalf.

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Homeless To Independence Inc. is not responsible for misprints or cancellations of events by the event holders, landlord and/or their agent, or ourselves. Homeless to Independence Inc. also reserves the right to “NOT” offer services to people and/or persons that are rude, unpleasant, and untruthful in any way shape or form, belligerent and the like.

OCCASIONALLY, THERE WILL BE ARTICLES BY OTHER WRITERS. HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWPOINTS, BUT WE DO RESPECT THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

OFFICE CONTACT INFO:

HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE INC., 201 STATION ROAD #258, QUAKERTOWN, PA 18951

THE VERY BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME IS TO SEND ME AN EMAIL: ANN@HOMELESSTOINDEPENDENCE.ORG

OFFICE NUMBER IS: 1-908-454-1500 LISTEN TO THE RECORDING

Please note that our office does have very limited volunteer staff and if we are one telephone line we cannot answer the other line. There is simply not enough time in the day to answer and/or return each and every telephone call.

THANK YOU!!!

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United Way of Central Minnesota 2-1-1

2-1-1 is a free and confidential way to find out about important health and human services programs in your community. Call 2-1-1 for information about health care, help paying rent and utility bills, transportation services, job training, mental health counseling and much more.

GO TO: http://unitedwayhelps.org/pages/UnitedWay2-1-1/

UPDATED 12-28-16
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Housing Connection – Affordable Housing Resources, News & Events

Bloomington HRA Bring it Home Wait List Opens September 29 – October 1 Bring it Home is a new rental assistance program funded by Minnesota Housing to provide rental assistance to low-income Minnesota families. Affordable Rent: Bring it Home voucher holders pay approximately 30% of their monthly income toward rent for an eligible Bloomington rental unit. Learn More Turning that No Into a Yes: Navigating Housing Admission Denials When an apartment becomes available, who gets to move in and who doesn’t? Join Family Housing Fund and Housing Justice Center Tuesday, October 13 from 12pm – 1pm for a webinar training that will cover: How the tenant screening process works. Successful strategies to navigate the process. How to remove potential barriers. New resources that can assist at each step. If you’re a renter, someone who supports renters, or a community member seeking to learn more, this training is for you! Register Here Housing Justice Center and Family Housing Fund also released two new resources that renters and the agencies that help them (practioners) may find helpful in navigating background barriers and screening criteria. Screening Packet for Renters Screening Packet for Practioners Scam Alert! We are seeing increased scam attempts on HousingLink. To avoid scams, always do the following when searching for a new home:1. Meet the owner or property manager in person. 2. Tour both the inside and outside of the home to make sure it is a good fit for you. 3. Review the lease terms before agreeing to rent a place or paying any money. 4. Don’t Venmo, Cash App, wire or mail money to anyone until you have met the owner/manager, toured the property inside and out, applied for the apartment, and agreed to lease terms. Learn More About Scam Prevention Here Overcome Criminal, Credit, and Rental History Barriers in Your Housing Search with Beyond Backgrounds    Beyond Backgrounds encourages owners/managers of rental property to make an exception to their screening criteria and rent to people with barriers in their background. When an owner/manager rents to someone that purchases Beyond Backgrounds Financial Assurance they get up to $2,000 after the lease ends, beyond what the security deposit covers, if something goes wrong like damage to the unit, unpaid rent, or legal fees. Learn About Beyond Backgrounds Financial Assurance Learn How to Use Beyond Backgrounds Financial Assurance to Overcome Housing Search Barriers Housing News Rental Housing Latest shooting at a Twin Cities apartment building highlights risk property managers face Star Tribune The two deadly incidents highlight the growing risk front-line property managers and workers face, said French, president of Mid Continent Management. Housing leader warns safety laws fall short after deadly Minneapolis shooting KSTP Minnesota housing leaders said the industry is grieving and urgently seeking changes after a mass shooting at Shoreline Plaza in Minneapolis left two residents dead and critically injured two property employees, including the property manager. Twin Cities suburbs are more diverse than ever. See how your city has changed. Star Tribune The growing diversity across the suburbs has been shaped by immigration and housing policy, and shows up in schools, businesses and social life. Snelling Yards opens up 95 units to Minneapolis Finance & Commerce A 95-unit affordable apartment building in south Minneapolis is now open to residents. New $136.5 million housing development breaks ground in downtown Rochester KIMT A major new housing development is moving forward in downtown Rochester, bringing 349 new homes to a site near the Mayo Clinic and the Zumbro River. Light rail is finally coming, but a grand Hopkins redevelopment plan is breaking down Star Tribune Hopkins city leaders are eager to jump-start a massive redevelopment plan to bring commercial space and hundreds of housing units to a long-blighted corner. With latest sale, Madison Equities ends years of downtown St. Paul dominance Star Tribune New owners recently took over two of the last Madison Equities properties, 375 Jackson and Park Square Court. Homelessness St. Paul’s homeless encampment closures may be on pause indefinitely Fox 9 There are no scheduled dates to clear St. Paul’s remaining homeless encampments after city leaders called the closure of Pig’s Eye Park unsuccessful. St. Paul mayor defends encampment strategy as emergency calls spike WCCO After the City of St. Paul, Minnesota, shut down a major homeless encampment, another one has grown, leading to a spike in emergency calls. St Paul Council President Discusses Encampment Closures MPR News The St. Paul City Council president discussed the city’s response to homeless encampments, saying many former Pig’s Eye residents moved to other sites and that more permanent supportive housing is needed. KARE 11 Investigates: Her fear was becoming homeless with her baby. Now it’s reality. KARE 11 A Minnesota mother who feared losing her home with her baby is now experiencing homelessness, highlighting the struggles families face as they try to find stable housing. Report: MN Homeless Youth With Foster Care Background ‘Faring Worse Across the Board’ The Imprint A report found that homeless youth with foster care backgrounds in Minnesota experience homelessness more frequently and for longer periods, along with greater exposure to violence and housing instability. VA awards $8.8 million in grants to fight veteran homelessness in Minnesota KIMT The VA awarded $8.8 million in grants to Minnesota organizations to help prevent and address homelessness among veterans and their families. The funding will support housing assistance, transitional housing and supportive services Accessibility and Disability Audit finds Minnesota needs to better regulate group home licensing MPR News An audit found Minnesota needs to improve oversight of group homes, with delayed inspections and a rating system that does not include serious maltreatment findings. Community Upper Harbor Terminal amphitheater takes shape Finance & Commerce Construction is underway on Minneapolis’ 8,000-seat Upper Harbor Terminal amphitheater, while plans for the site’s affordable housing and industrial developments remain delayed. Minnesota August housing report: Inventory hits 7-year high as listings outpace sales Fox 9 Minnesota’s housing inventory reached a seven-year high in August as new listings increased while pending sales declined. The growing supply is giving buyers more options, though home prices and affordability remain challenging.

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ADDITIONAL PLACES TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

IN MINNESOTA…

https://housinglink.org/advancedsearch?id=8243037

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• HUD Resource Locator
• USDA Rural Development Multi-Housing Rentals
• LowIncomeHousing.us
• RentCafe.com

1. SELECT “BROWSING”;
2. SELECT “HOUSING”;
3. CLICK THE “FILTERS” IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER;
4. SELECT “FOR RENT”, “NO. OF BEDROOMS”, “NO. OF BATHROOMS”,

1. AND SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

UPDATED 05-31-25
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As I search for rentals throughout our state, I look for certain criteria:

1. I have decided to not list so many houses for rent, as apartments, in most cases do include heat. Please keep in mind that winter is at our door-step and the cost of heating is on the rise. The monthly rental may seem a bit higher priced, however, it will be worth it in the long-run.

2. I will not list housing that requires a fee for their service, nor a fee per call. I do agree with a fee, however for the back-ground and/or credit check, THE FEE IS APPROPRIATE, since those companies providing the background check and credit check do charge a fee for their services.

3. I will do my best to keep the maximum rental amount within the cost of living to your area, however, if Section 8 or TRA is accepted the rental amount may be more because there are times when the utilities are included.

4. I will not list without the rental amount included

5. I try not to list rental opportunities that offer “Option to Buy” – I have found that in most of these situations it does not work out properly for either party involved. I am working on a “First Time Home Purchaser” list of programs from throughout the State, that operates in an official capacity to help those that are working so diligently to raise their families and deserve to show something for their hard, hard work.

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WE LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING OTHERS!!