What is housing assistance at ICA?

Housing assistance sometimes means providing financial assistance for a utility bill or part of a rent payment, without which, local families would lose their housing. Emergency requests must be due to an unforeseeable and unpreventable crisis and assistance from ICA MUST be able to resolve the financial issue.

To receive housing assistance you must live in ICA’s service area of Hopkins, Minnetonka, Excelsior, Shorewood, Deephaven, Greenwood, or Woodland.

You must have income BEFORE your application is considered.

For rental assistance only: you also need to receive a denial letter from Hennepin County Emergency Assistance or Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County BEFORE applying to ICA.

Interested in receiving assistance? First, read ICA’s FULL guidelines (Updated as of July 2024) to make sure you qualify. Click here!

Meet the guidelines? Click below for a rental, deposit, or utility application.

Ready to submit an application? Email application@icafoodshelf.org.

Referrals

When a neighbor is new to our services, many don’t know what resources are available to help them. Our relationship managers discuss eligibility for programs including SNAP, energy assistance, financial counseling and other local agencies that provide assistance. Find contact information for these and other community resources here.

CALL 211

United Way 2-1-1 provides free and confidential health and human services information for people in Minnesota. We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect you with the resources and information you need.

ICA’s work with local community housing teams

In 2017, ICA joined with other local organizations and community members to form the Hopkins Community Housing Team and the Minnetonka Community Housing Team in order to discuss growing concerns around housing stability and the impact of housing trends in our communities.

Both teams are interested in the preservation and production of affordable housing, and the protection of renters’ rights in our communities. The teams aim to engage with community members, identify housing concerns, explore possible solutions, and to help create healthy, diverse, and equitable cities.

Want to learn more about our work with local community housing teams? Reach out to Ann Beuch.