Housing Job Aid

Overview — purpose and scope

• Q: What is this Housing Job Aid for? A: It helps Hub staff assist people in Minnesota to access and afford housing by centralizing trusted resources, programs, payment assistance, and search tools.
• Q: Where are updates tracked and when was this last updated? A: The job aid lists revision notes; the document shows updates through 10/09/2025.

HB101 and DHS housing programs

• Q: What is HB101? A: HB101 is a DHS resource that explains types of housing, paying for housing, services, and other housing programs for people with disabilities.
• Q: What DHS housing program information is on HB101? A: MN DHS Housing Programs that Help People with Disabilities, program links, fact sheets, brochures, and regular updates from DHS.
• Q: How can staff get HB101 Places support or give feedback? A: Use the HB101 Places support site (hb101.places.dhs.state.mn.us) to access tools or provide feedback.
• Q: What search terms on HB101 help find housing services? A: Moving Home Minnesota; Housing Support; Housing Access Coordination; MSA Housing assistance; Relocation Service Coordination; Return to Community; Keeping your housing; Owning a Home.

Ways to pay for rent or housing

• Q: Where do I find programs and services to help people pay rent or housing expenses? A: Use the "Ways to Pay for Rent or Housing for People with Disabilities" resource referenced in the job aid to find local and state programs that assist with rent or housing-related costs.
• Q: Is the Ways to Pay document updated? A: Yes — it is maintained and updated regularly; check the Hub/DHS links for the newest details.

Affordable housing search tools

• Q: What tools can staff use to search for affordable housing? A: The job aid points to an Affordable Housing Search Tools document which links to multiple search tools; staff should pick tools that match the person’s situation.
• Q: Which tool shows subsidized housing waiting lists in the Twin Cities? A: HousingLink.org publishes waiting list status and provides details on subsidized housing programs in Minnesota.
• Q: What HousingLink features are useful? A: Under "Subsidized Housing" and "Housing Resources" you’ll find program overviews, tips for overcoming barriers (credit, criminal history, rental history), Housing Programs by Number, and newsletters that notify subscribers of waiting list openings.

Disability Hub MN website and toolkits

• Q: Where on the Disability Hub MN site do I find housing resources? A: Go to the site banner, select "Your Options," then click "Housing."
• Q: What does the Hub’s Housing Toolkit include? A: Hands-on tools for exploring housing options, making plans, and searching for homes—designed to guide conversations and planning.

Vault — Housing Paths

• Q: What is the Vault and how does it help with housing? A: The Vault contains Housing Paths with activities to help people identify needs, wants, budgets, needed supports, considerations for living with others, and steps to address housing issues.

DHS program links and common docs

• Q: Which DHS documents are commonly referenced for housing assistance? A: DHS Housing Programs and Services page; MN Supplemental Aid fact sheet; DHS Housing Support fact sheet (formerly GRH); Moving Home Minnesota brochure; DHS Housing Resources for people impacted by HSS closure; HSS FAQs.
• Q: When should I use the Moving Home Minnesota brochure? A: Use it when discussing transition supports for people moving from institutions or other long-term settings into community housing options.

Out‑of‑state resources

• Q: What do I use when someone needs housing help outside Minnesota? A: Refer to national resources: HUD Housing Counseling Agencies, Aging and Disability Resource Centers locator, and the ILRU Directory of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and associations.

Practical referral and conversation guidance

• Q: How should staff introduce housing resources to a person? A: Start by listening to the person’s housing goals and barriers, then offer one or two targeted resources (HB101, HousingLink, Vault or Hub Toolkit) and offer to walk through search steps or application questions.
• Q: What if a person has barriers like credit or criminal history? A: Use HousingLink resources for tips on overcoming barriers and discuss practical steps (e.g., budgeting, references, landlord explanation letters); refer to local supportive housing programs if needed.

Contacts and where to send people

• Q: Where should people be referred for DHS-specific housing program questions? A: Refer to the DHS pages listed in HB101 and the job aid; specific program pages and fact sheets contain contact and application details.
• Q: Where can staff find local affordable housing listings and waiting list info? A: HousingLink.org and local public housing authority (PHA) websites; HousingLink also offers newsletters and waiting list status updates.

Job aid maintenance and recent changes

• Q: What recent changes were made to the Housing Job Aid? A: 10/09/2025 — Vault information added; Housing Stabilization fact sheet and workflow removed. 09/29/2025 — Moving Home MN Brochure link updated. 08/20/2025 — HB101 Places email updated; MinnesotaHelp.info removed; purpose simplified.
• Q: How should staff check for the latest updates? A: Review the job aid’s revision history and the linked HB101 / DHS pages regularly since those resources are updated frequently.

Suggested Genesys article tags and quick responses

• Q: What tags should I use when creating Genesys KB articles from these Q&As? A: housing; HB101; DHS; affordable-housing; HousingLink; Vault; payment-assistance; out-of-state; housing-toolkit.
• Q: Provide a short one-line reply for an IVR/quick reply: "I need help finding affordable housing." A: "I can help — I’ll check HB101 and HousingLink for local subsidized listings and waiting list openings; do you need in-state or out-of-state resources?"