Minnesota financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Minnesota
If household costs are hard to manage, Minnesota has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the county, Tribal Nation, regional, or local application route when a program is administered closer to home.
Money Fit serves Minnesota residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
Minnesota uses MNbenefits for several food, cash, child care, housing-support, and emergency-assistance programs. Healthcare coverage uses a separate application route, while housing and energy help may be handled by regional or local providers.
Apply for food, cash, child care, or emergency help
MNbenefits is the state's streamlined application for SNAP, several cash programs, Child Care Assistance, Housing Support, and Emergency Assistance.
Find nearby help statewide
United Way 211 provides free, confidential, 24-hour referrals across Minnesota for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, legal needs, family services, and other community resources.
Housing or energy assistance
Minnesota Housing directs residents to coordinated-entry and rental-assistance providers, while the Energy Assistance Program uses local service providers by county or Tribal Nation.
Local administration matters in Minnesota. County and Tribal Nation human-services offices review many MNbenefits applications. Child Care Assistance can have local waiting lists. Energy assistance is delivered through local providers, and homelessness services use regional Coordinated Entry systems.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, the Minnesota Food HelpLine can help locate food shelves, meal programs, senior food resources, and SNAP application help.
Minnesota SNAP
SNAP provides monthly grocery benefits to eligible Minnesota households. Apply online through MNbenefits or submit the Combined Application Form to the county or Tribal Nation human-services office serving your household.
Minnesota WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition support, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local WIC agencies complete enrollment.
Find a WIC clinic: 800-942-4030
Minnesota Food HelpLine
The Minnesota Food HelpLine, a program of The Food Group, helps residents find food shelves, meal programs, discounted groceries, senior food resources, and SNAP application assistance. Interpreter services are available.
Call or text: 888-711-1151
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Minnesota SNAP time-limited work rules changed. Under rules effective November 1, 2025, certain adults ages 18 through 64 who do not live with a dependent child under age 14 may need to meet and report qualifying work activities unless an exemption applies. Beginning December 1, 2025, Minnesota's prior lack-of-jobs waivers no longer applied under the new federal standard. Use current DCYF guidance and notices rather than older age or county rules.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Minnesota housing help is administered through county and Tribal Nation offices, regional Coordinated Entry systems, local rental-assistance providers, utilities, and Energy Assistance Program providers. Funding and waiting lists can change.
Emergency Assistance and Emergency General Assistance
Low-income households facing an emergency such as eviction, foreclosure, utility shutoff, or another threat to basic shelter may qualify for a county- or Tribal Nation-administered emergency program. Families generally use Emergency Assistance, while adults without children may use Emergency General Assistance. Local rules can vary.
Minnesota Energy Assistance Program
EAP helps eligible households pay home heating costs and may provide help with energy emergencies. The program is administered by local providers across the state, including nonprofit organizations and Tribal governments.
2026-27 application deadline: May 31, 2027
Energy Information: 800-657-3710
Minnesota Housing Coordinated Entry
Coordinated Entry is the regional intake and referral system for many homelessness and supportive-housing programs. Minnesota Housing also maintains contacts for rental-assistance providers. Availability and eligibility depend on the program and region.
HousingLink
HousingLink provides rental-search tools and housing information for Minnesota. Search current listings and contact the property or program directly to confirm rent, eligibility, accessibility, and availability.
Minnesota Housing Support
Housing Support helps some adults with disabilities, older adults, and other eligible people pay for housing and, in some settings, supportive services. Apply through MNbenefits and indicate that you are requesting Housing Support.
LawHelpMN
LawHelpMN provides Minnesota-specific legal information and a statewide guide to legal-aid programs, clinics, court resources, and other free or low-cost civil legal help. Housing, benefits, debt, family safety, employment, and other civil matters may be covered.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Minnesota Medical Assistance is the state's Medicaid program, while MinnesotaCare provides low-cost coverage for some residents who do not qualify for Medical Assistance. The correct application depends on age, household composition, disability status, Medicare, and other factors.
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare
Most families and adults under age 65 can apply online using Minnesota's health-coverage application. People who are 65 or older, blind, disabled, receiving SSI, or in certain Medicare situations may need a different paper application through their county or Tribal Nation.
Health care navigators and support
Free application help is available through county and Tribal Nation offices and health-care navigators. MNsure can also help people using the online application route.
MNsure: 855-366-7873
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, substance-use treatment, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Medical Assistance has major federal changes beginning October 1, 2026. Minnesota says eligibility changes for some noncitizen adults begin October 1, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, some adults ages 21 through 64 will also face new work or community-engagement requirements and six-month renewals. The state is contacting affected members and recommends keeping contact information current and responding to official notices.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
MNbenefits can be used for Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program and several cash-assistance programs. County and Tribal Nation offices complete eligibility review and may require an interview or additional documents.
Child Care Assistance Program
CCAP helps eligible families pay for child care while a caregiver works, attends school, looks for work, or participates in an approved employment activity. Some local agencies have waiting lists for families who have not recently received MFIP benefits.
Minnesota Family Investment Program
MFIP helps eligible families with children meet basic needs while supporting caregivers in moving toward financial stability through employment. It can include cash, food, child care assistance, and employment services.
General Assistance
General Assistance provides cash support for certain very low-income adults without dependent children who cannot work enough to support themselves and meet program requirements. Applications use MNbenefits or the Combined Application Form.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
CCAP rules are not identical everywhere. Some local agencies maintain waiting lists, while families receiving or recently leaving MFIP can follow different priority rules. Minnesota also says the program's published income guidelines will change October 12, 2026. Check current county, Tribal Nation, or contracted-agency guidance when applying.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or the loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the rest of the household budget.
Minnesota unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Minnesota accepts applications online through the unemployment self-service system or by automated phone.
Twin Cities: 651-296-3644
Greater Minnesota: 877-898-9090
Customer service: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
CareerForce Minnesota
CareerForce locations and partners provide job-search support, career planning, training information, resume help, and other employment services across Minnesota.
LawHelpMN
LawHelpMN helps residents find legal-aid programs, clinics, court resources, and trustworthy self-help information. The statewide guide can match people with free or low-cost legal options based on the issue and location.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on household income or participation in certain public benefit programs.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Minnesota provides separate statewide navigation services for older adults and people with disabilities, along with a single statewide reporting center for suspected maltreatment of vulnerable adults.
Minnesota Aging Pathways
Minnesota Aging Pathways is a free statewide service that connects older adults and caregivers with the Area Agency on Aging serving their community and with information about meals, transportation, in-home services, benefits, caregiver support, long-term care, and housing options.
Minnesota Aging Pathways: 800-333-2433
Disability Hub MN
Disability Hub MN is a free statewide service for people with disabilities and the people who support them. Hub staff can help solve problems, understand benefits, and connect with programs and services.
Disability Hub MN: 866-333-2466, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center
MAARC receives reports of suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation involving vulnerable adults. Reports are routed to the state or local agency responsible for investigation based on the circumstances.
24-hour reporting line: 844-880-1574
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Minnesota 988 Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health concerns, or another behavioral-health crisis. Minnesota also maintains county and Tribal Nation mobile-crisis services.
Call or text: 988
Minnesota Day One Crisis Line
Day One is Minnesota's statewide 24-hour hotline for people experiencing domestic violence and other forms of relationship violence. Advocates can help with safety planning, shelter, advocacy, legal resources, and connections to local programs.
Call: 866-223-1111
Text: 612-399-9995
United Way 211
Minnesota 211 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides free, confidential referrals for health and human services across the state.
Call: 211 or 800-543-7709
Text: ZIP code to 898211
Minnesota and federal disaster assistance
Disaster assistance depends on the event, location, declaration status, losses, insurance, and program rules. Minnesota 211 can help identify local recovery resources, while FEMA Individual Assistance becomes available only for qualifying federal declarations and designated areas.
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Minnesota residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
