Homeless Prevention Assistance
If you need help paying past due rent or paying first month's rent and deposit, Community Action can help.
The Homelessness Prevention Assistance Program at Community Action helps households who are experiencing a temporary financial crisis that has impacted their ability to pay their rent or households experiencing temporary homelessness to secure new housing.
Stable housing provides the foundational safety and routine necessary for families to thrive. Research shows that a secure home reduces toxic stress, improves health outcomes, and is directly linked to higher academic achievement and fewer school disruptions for children.
Community Action uses prevention funds to help stabilize individuals and families that are at risk of homelessness. The goal of this program is to prevent households from losing their stable housing when faced with temporary crisis situations.
Households who are currently housed can get assistance with past due rent to maintain
stable housing. Households who are currently unhoused can get assistance paying the first
month’s rent and deposit to secure stable housing.
Households in need may apply for funds once every 12 months. If approved, funds are
issued in the form of a grant and do not require repayment.
Is My Household Eligible for Assistance?
Applicants seeking Homelessness Prevention Assistance must meet the following guidelines:
1. Must be 18 years of age or older and currently residing in Ramsey or Washington
County.
Total household income (income of all adults 18+) must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level for your household size.
Must have past due rent owed. This program cannot pay future rent, unless your household is currently unhoused and seeking to secure stable housing.
Must have a documented temporary financial crisis that is impacting your ability to pay rent.
Must be able to show that you can pay rent moving forward so that housing stability is maintained.
Must have a minimum of a 14-day intent to evict notice from your landlord and priority is given to households with scheduled eviction court dates and/or issued WRIT’s.
How Do I Apply?
If you believe you meet the eligibility requirements you can complete the Homelessness
Prevention Assistance Screener Form below and a Community Action staff member will contact you if you are eligible.
Households who complete the screener and are determined eligible will be given a scheduled appointment time to complete the full intake and submit all required documentation.
Please note that it may take staff up to 14 days to review your screening form and
contact you regarding an appointment.
Who Can Answer My Questions?
If you are interested in more information or have additional questions, please contact us at
651-603-5880 or FOP@caprw.org.