How does the program work?

Stable Homes Stable Schools is a pioneering partnership among the city, the housing authority, the county, and the public schools. The program is designed to grow gradually over time, with funding to serve as many as 320 families over three years. It is considered a pilot program during these three years, and the partners will evaluate its success with help from University of Minnesota researchers.

• Minneapolis Public Schools social workers identify eligible families at 18 public schools across the city.
• There are two facets to the rental assistance being provided:
  • The City of Minneapolis and MPHA jointly fund direct rental assistance to families of elementary students experiencing homelessness. MPHA will administer the rental assistance.
  • A grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation funds emergency Housing Stability Funds to assist families that are at risk of eviction or other loss of housing.
• Hennepin County and the YMCA provide essential support services to help families succeed.

One more key partner: Minneapolis rental property owners willing to offer homes to families in need. If this describes you, get in touch with MPHA: OwnerOutreach@MplsPHA.org

How is it funded?

The city of Minneapolis provides roughly 2/3, and MPHA roughly 1/3, of the funding for rental assistance. This essential city funding allows Stable Homes to serve many more families than MPHA could reach alone, and support from the other partners will maximize the chances for family success. The reach of the program and the joint city/PHA funding model make Stable Homes Stable Schools a pioneering effort nationwide in both scale and approach.

A related grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation to support a Housing Stability Fund to reach many additional families who are at risk of homelessness (but do not qualify for ongoing rental assistance payments). The school system and county will be self-funding their related services to families.

I am a family in need of help, or a property owner who wants to help. How can I be involved?

We are excited to work with property owners whose rental units might accommodate families in Stable Homes Stable Schools. Families will pay 30 percent of their income toward rent, with MPHA paying the remainder directly to the property owner. If you would like to learn more–and especially if you expect to have a rental unit available starting in March 2019–please email OwnerOutreach@MplsPHA.org.

Minneapolis Public Schools will initially identify families who might benefit from the program, at one of 17 participating elementary schools. Families cannot apply to MPHA or to the city directly.

To be eligible for ongoing rental assistance, families must:

• Be homeless, defined as lacking “a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence”;
• Have at least one minor child enrolled in one of the 17 participating Minneapolis Public Schools;
• Have household income near or below 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI varies by family size; currently $31,450 for a family of four);
• Commit to certain program conditions (such as regular school attendance and parental involvement with school activities);
• and meet certain conditions regarding criminal history.

School social workers refer eligible families and prioritize referrals based on the academic and housing stability needs of the family.

Families who are not currently experiencing homelessness may still qualify for one-time assistance under the Housing Stability Fund. Inquire with your school social worker to express interest and explore eligibility.

Interested families at one of the following schools should contact their school social worker about a referral.

Anishinabe Academy – 3100 E. 28th St.
Bethune Community – 919 Emerson Ave. N.
Bryn Mawr Community – 252 Upton Ave. S
Cityview Community – 3350 – 4th St. N.
Folwell Community – 3611 20th Ave S.
Green Central Park Community – 3416 Fourth Ave. S.
Hall International – 1601 Aldrich Ave. N.
Hmong International Academy – 1501 30th Ave. N.
Jefferson Community – 1200 W. 26th St.
Jenny Lind Elementary – 5025 Bryant Ave. N.
Lucy Laney at Cleveland – 3333 Penn Ave. N.
Nellie Stone Johnson – 807 27th Ave. N.
Pillsbury Community – 2250 Garfield St. NE.
Sheridan International Fine Arts – 1201 University Ave. NE.
Sullivan Community – 3100 E. 28th St.
Webster Elementary- 425 5th St. NE
Whittier International Elementary – 315 W 26th St.

Media questions?

MPHA: media@mplspha.org

City of Minneapolis: sarah.mckenzie@minneapolismn.gov