Resources

Renter's Resources

Marcy-Holmes boasts a large and diverse community of renters, which make up almost 90% of our residents. Whether you've lived here for years or only plan to stay for a few months, MHNA is here to serve your needs and make you feel at home. Below, we've provided some resources you can use to stay informed and stably housed.

Renters: We want to hear from you! 

Please take our brief online survey to share your experience renting in Marcy-Holmes. Your input will help us address your needs and improve our programming to better serve you. 

Know Your Rights!

Federal, state, and local laws provide many protections to renters. Being familiar with these allows you to defend your right to quality housing and hold your landlord accountable. Below are some helpful resources to help you learn about your rights as a renter:

If you still have questions, here are some numbers to call:

Have you been served an eviction notice?

Here's what you can do:

  1. Seek legal advice immediately. You are not required to have a lawyer in housing court, but having one greatly increases your chances of winning and staying housed. Low-income tenants can obtain free or low-cost legal representation by calling Hennepin County Adult Representation Services at (612)-348-7012 or Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid at 612-334-5970. 
  2. Show up to your hearing on time. If you don't show up or are late, you will lose your case by default. 
  3. If you owe rent money and applied for emergency rental assistance, you may be protected. Those with a pending RentHelpMN application cannot be evicted for nonpayment until June 1, 2022. However, you must provide the court with proof that you applied.
  4. If you withheld rent due to repair problems, bring all the money owed to court. It is your responsibility to defend this action in court; if your defense doesn't hold up, you may be ordered to pay all the rent owed.
  5. Try to settle your case before the hearing. It is in your best interest to work out an agreement with your landlord before your court date. There are many mediation services available to make this process easier for you. Bring a written copy the agreement, signed by both parties, to your hearing so the court can approve it. Be sure your settlement agreement asks for the eviction expunged (removed) from your record; it will be harder to get it removed later and will cause you problems down the road.

For more detailed advice on navigating the eviction process, visit: https://www.lawhelpmn.org/self-help-library/fact-sheet/evictions. 

Need help finding affordable housing?

There is a range of affordable rental options available in our corner of Minneapolis, including multifamily apartments, smaller rentals, supportive housing, and subsidized housing. HousingLink provides a comprehensive database of housing vacancies and waiting list openings in the Twin Cities. It even allows you to filter out housing that accept Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers and that provide subsidies like Section 42, Section 202 for seniors, and project-based Section 8.

If you are being denied housing due to your Section 8 voucher or something on your tenant screening report, the Housing Justice Center may be able to help. Call their Renters Reclaim the Record hotline at 1-800-429-1705 or email [email protected]

 

Homeowner's Resources

Owning and maintaining for a home is not easy. Whether you're a longstanding homeowner in the neighborhood or just purchased your first home, MHNA is here to demystify the process and to connect you with other homeowners nearby. Below are some resources to help you stay on top of your responsibilities as a homeowner, as well as to reap its benefits.

Get to Know Your Home!

It's important to learn about your property so that you're familiar with its unique identity and needs. Even if you think you already know your home top-to-bottom, it's worth inspecting your property twice a year to identify any changes or damage.

The Hennepin County Recorder's Office provides a useful online Property Information Search tool to research information about your property, including construction year, property ID number, tax parcel information, and taxable land and building values.

If you want to learn more about improvements that have been made to your home, the Hennepin County Library has digitized the building permit index cards for many homes in Minneapolis. This is a useful and fun resource to get more familiar with the structure and history of your home.

Financial Assistance

There are many costs associated with homeownership. Thankfully, a number of resources are available to ease the financial burden of owning and maintaining your home:

  • Minnesota Housing is currently accepting applications for HomeHelpMN, which can help cover mortgage payments, property taxes, and homeowners insurance. The application period closes on August 17, 2022 at 5:00pm. If you have questions or want to learn more, visit HomeHelpMN.org. 
  • The State of Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program (EAP) grants up to $2,000 to cover household utility costs, including energy, heat, and water bills. Eligible households must have an income at or below 60 percent of the state median income. For more information and to see if you qualify, visit mn.gov/energyassistance or call 800-657-3710 and press 1.
  • The Center for Energy & Environment (CEE) has partnered with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint to offer the Home Energy Squad program. It includes in-home audits to assess your home's energy efficiency and provide tips on how to cut down on energy costs.
  • The Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County (CAP-HC) offers a number of assistance programs to low-income families, including energy, tax, transportation, and housing assistance. To learn more about their services, visit: https://caphennepin.org/what-we-do/. 
  • If property taxes are putting a serious strain on your household's finances, the State of Minnesota may be able to help. You may qualify for a number of special tax credits and classifications that could lower your property tax burden. Check out the programs available: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-programs. 

Repairs & Rehab

Before making any major improvements to your property, you should consult with the City of Minneapolis to be sure you're complying with building codes or to learn if you need a permit. For more information on property maintenance and improvement, visit: https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/property-housing/property-maintenance/. 

To promote neighborhood safety, the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association has created a Security Rebate Program. Homeowners and other property owners can be reimbursed up to $250 for making safety improvements to their properties. To learn more, visit: https://www.marcy-holmes.org/security. 

Historic Homes

As the oldest neighborhood in Minneapolis, Marcy-Holmes boasts many unique historic homes. Integral to our colorful character, these structures require special attention when it comes to property stewardship. Check out the resources below to learn how to preserve the historic character of your property and our neighborhood:

  • The Minnesota Historical Society provides some great tips and resources for rehabilitating historic structures. Learn more here: https://www.mnhs.org/preservation/buildings/rehab.
  • Rethos is a local nonprofit that advocates for the preservation and re-use of historic buildings. They offer a number of hands-on workshops for historic homeowners to learn techniques for preserving and rehabbing their property. Topics include window replacement, weatherization, finishes and varnishes, and routine maintenance. Learn more about their class offerings here: https://www.rethos.org/education. 
  • The City of Minneapolis' Just Deeds Project offers free services to help property owners remove exclusionary racial covenants from their properties’ legal title. To learn more, visit: https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/attorney/just-deeds/.