LEDC is one of the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program local administrators around the state that is working with individuals located in Minnesota.
What is the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program?
The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program provides housing assistance payments to help prevent eviction, prevent homelessness, and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners. Local administrators will review applications from individuals and families requesting assistance, verify eligibility, and process payments for eligible expenses on behalf of households.
Am I eligible to apply?
To qualify for housing assistance, Minnesota households must meet all of the following criteria: Income at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines, with a preference for those at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Have an eligible expense that was incurred after March 1, 2020 that is past due. Housing assistance funds can only be used for eligible expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020. Be unable to make one or more payments owed because of the public health emergency due to unemployment, illness, or another COVID-19 related issue.
What expenses are covered?
- The program covers past due housing expenses such as:
- Rent payments
- Mortgage payments
- Contract for deed payments
- Manufactured home park lot rents and payments
- Utility payments
- Homeowners Association fees
IMPORTANT POINTS (of eligibility)
- If you have suffered loss of income due to COVID-19
- If you are behind on your rent, mortgage, utilities, association payments, and homeowners insurance
- If your family is below 300% of the federal poverty level
- If you reside in the state of Minnesota
WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY:
- Documentation of your income for the last month (pay stubs, work check, unemployment assistance, etc.)
- Information on the institutions to whom these funds are directed (lessor, bank, public service companies, etc.)
- Ask for the W9 form from your landlord so that we can make the payment directly to them
STEPS TO APPLY
- Call to see if you qualify and schedule an appointment with LEDC
- Make the application BY APPOINTMENT with someone from our team (in the office, in Zoom or by phone)
- Have ALL the required documents ready before the appointment
- Wait to be approved. You will receive an email and / or text message notifying about this
- Wait up to 2 weeks for us to process the payment
PHONE TO CALL AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT: 651-447-5152
EMAIL FOR QUESTIONS: Employmentandtraining@ledcmn.org
For complete details on who is eligible to apply and what costs are covered by the program, visit www.211unitedway.org. Interested applicants may also call 211 (Toll Free: 1.800.543.7709; Local: 651.291.0211) or text “MNRENT” to 898-211 to learn more. The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions about the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
