Families – Households with Dependents

MPHA’s waitlist for family housing is currently closed

MPHA owns and operates more than 1,000 family housing units across nearly every neighborhood in Minneapolis. This includes single family homes, townhomes, and multiplexes. These homes are the agency’s most sought-after housing type, knowing that MPHA’s deeply affordable family housing is a tool of upward mobility.

If you have previously applied for housing, you can check your status by logging on to MPHA’s online portal (portal.mphaonline.org) using the username and password you created when you applied.

Starting on November 15, 2024, waitlist applicants who applied October 10-15, 2024 can check their status by logging on to MPHA’s online portal (portal.mphaonline.org) using the username and password you created when you applied. If the status is marked “On List,” your application has been placed on the waiting list. If the status is marked “Removed,” the applicant was not placed on the waiting list due to ineligibility. Agency staff will also send an email to all applicants following the lottery selection process stating their updated status.

Eligibility

To be eligible for housing, you must comply with the below. For details on eligibility, please see our current Statement of Policies.

  • 1

    One or more dependent other than the family head or co-head, who is either less than 18 years of age, a disabled person, or a full-time student (A dependent is defined as a member of the tenant family household, excluding foster children)

  • 2

    Three or more household members

  • 3
    Household income cannot exceed 80% of the Area Median Income
  • 4
    Each household member must have a social security card, be an eligible citizen or have eligible non-citizen status, or be a mixed-status family
  • 5
    Each household must pass a criminal history screening (simply having a criminal history does not disqualify you)

Application

Pre-applications for applicants are done exclusively online through MPHA’s RentCafé Portal. Applicants will need to register for an account on MPHA’s Rent Café Portal and complete the pre-application process (a valid email address and full social security number are needed).

  • Social Security numbers for each applicant household member
  • Dates of birth for each applicant household member (birth certificate)
  • Value of all household assets (ie: bank accounts, investments, real estate, etc.)
  • Total monthly income of the household (includes all household members)
  • Source of all income (wages, pensions, TANF, and other sources)

  • Call: 612-342-1451 (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday)
  • Email: MPHAapplications@mplspha.org
  • Visit: MPHA’s office at 1001 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55401 (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday)

Intake

You may log into your MPHA RentCafé Portal to view your status.

MPHA will periodically notify applicants via email and mail asking to update their personal information on the MPHA RentCafé Portal. Applicants that fail to update their information by the deadline provided will be removed from the waitlist.

When your name is at the top of the waitlist, you will receive a notification to your email (email listed in your portal) and mailed letter (mailing address listed on your portal), to come in for an intake appointment. Your placement into a unit will be conditional on the approval of your full application, criminal background screening, preference points, rental housing references, and availability of units. If your application is not deemed eligible, your application will be denied, and you may contest the denial by requesting an appeal.