As of January 2020, Minnesota had an estimated 7,940 people experiencing homelessness on any given day. Homelessness is a serious threat to both individual health and the wellbeing of our community. We at Cornerstone are fighting homelessness by connecting seniors and people with disabilities, mental illness and substance use disorder with resources and funding from the state to help them find and keep housing.
Our goal is to support individuals with housing transition, increase long-term housing stability and cut down on homelessness and institutionalization in the Twin Cities 7 county metro area.
To qualify for Cornerstone’s housing services, an individual must:
- Be 18 years or older and on Medical Assistance (MA)
- Have a documented disability or disabling condition
- Be experiencing housing instability
- Need help with communication, mobility, decision-making or managing moods or behaviors
- Not be getting similar services from other programs
Housing Consultation
The State of Minnesota provides planning services that support housing stability, and once you’ve created a plan with a Cornerstone housing specialist, we make referrals to help you access these resources. We help you assess your strengths, needs, wants and lifestyle, understand your rights to privacy and appeal information and make informed choices about where to live. We work together with you or your loved one to develop a person-centered housing plan that fits your lifestyle, and then we connect you with the assistance you need to achieve your housing goals.
We’ll collaborate with other service providers you’re currently working with and check in to reassess your person-centered plan as it relates to housing every year.
Housing Sustaining
We support the early identification and prevention of behaviors that may jeopardize your housing situation. Our housing specialists can assist with things like housing recertification, income and benefits, training on being a good tenant, lease compliance, household management and finding support in the community. These services help you identify and maintain the resources, knowledge, skills and support an individual needs to live independently. However, housing sustaining services do not cover room and board.
Housing Transition
Our housing transition services help you find and assess independent housing options in order to make the best housing decisions. This process may include budgeting, searching for independent housing, touring and applying for apartments, tenant screening or housing assessment and understanding, negotiating and signing your lease. We’ll create an individualized housing plan together, help you execute the plan and even help you pay for many of the expenses related to your move.
Transitional Services
Transitional services are slightly different from housing transition services; they help you plan and prepare for a housing transition up to your actual moving day. Beginning no more than 45 days before your move, we’ll help you with the below services and provide up to $3,000 in financial support. Individuals are only eligible to receive transitional services once every three years.
Transitional services cover:
- Essential furniture (e.g., bed frame, box spring, mattress, dining table and chairs, dressers, lamps, sofas)
- Household supplies (e.g., cleaning supplies, dishes, drinking glasses, flatware, pots and pans, sheets, towels)
- Lease or rental deposits
Moving expenses (e.g., moving vehicle rental, packing, unpacking) - Pest and allergen treatment of the home
- Utility set-up fees and deposits
- Window coverings
Transitional services do not cover:
- Clothing
- Food
- Items, expenses or supports that duplicate other DHS waiver services
- Recreational and diversionary items (e.g., computers, DVD players, televisions, cable access)
- Rent or mortgage payments
- Services for a person moving into a home that the person does not own
- Supports to move (e.g., assistance from people to arrange for utilities or locate and secure a home)
