If you are facing financial hardship or housing instability, or if you need essential items in the Twin Cities area, there are various church-affiliated assistance programs offering help with rent and utility payments, as well as food and vouchers for identification documents. Since resources are tied to specific parish networks and local service centers, your eligibility and the application process will depend largely on whether you reside within the city limits of Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Emergency Financial & Household Aid Programs
If you need direct assistance with emergency funds, clothing, or vouchers for daily necessities, these important organizations run robust assistance programs in both cities:
The Basilica of Saint Mary
The St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Ministry at The Basilica of Saint Mary offers emergency financial and household assistance on a walk-in basis (no appointment needed). Programs operate directly out of the Cowley Center (located on the east side of the church at 15 N 16th St, Minneapolis) and are reserved specifically for Minneapolis residents experiencing a financial crisis.
All assistance services are provided on a strict first-come, first-served basis and are subject to the availability of funds and supplies.
Services and Hours
The types of assistance available depend entirely on the day of the week you visit:
Tuesdays and Thursdays (9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) | General Assistance
Identification vouchers: Cover fees required to obtain state IDs, driver’s licenses, or birth certificates from any state (this benefit is available once every 12 months).
Transportation assistance: Gas cards for licensed drivers or bus cards for individuals with verified proof of new employment.
Household and personal care items: Laundry vouchers, thrift store vouchers (for clothing or household goods), and basic hygiene items.
Note: No processing or intake for rent payment assistance takes place on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Mondays (9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) | Rent and Senior Assistance
“Align Minneapolis” Rent Program: Intake for emergency rent assistance applications takes place only from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. m. No new rental assistance applications are started or processed after 11:00 a.m.
Senior Monday: Assistance resources specifically for Minneapolis residents aged 50 and older.
Required verification documents
To receive assistance, you must present the following physical documents:
Photo ID: A physical photo ID card is required (it does not need to be government-issued).
Proof of address: Recent mail showing your name and a valid residential address in Minneapolis. Shelter stay verification (if applicable): If you are currently unhoused and staying at a local shelter, you must present a properly signed shelter verification form.
Printed rental documents (for rental assistance only): If applying for rental assistance on a Monday, you must present printed copies of all county emergency denial letters and lease agreement documents; digital copies on mobile phones are not accepted.
St. Vincent de Paul Twin Cities
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) of the Twin Cities operates very differently from conventional charities where one simply walks in without an appointment. Instead of managing a single centralized office for financial aid requests, SVdP coordinates emergency assistance locally through “Parish Conferences” based at Catholic churches in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and their suburbs.
If you are facing a crisis related to housing, utility shutoffs, or food insecurity, their trained volunteers step in directly to assess and meet your household’s needs.
How to request financial and utility assistance
To receive emergency financial assistance, you must apply through the specific local parish conference serving your area of residence.
- Step 1: Locate your local conference: Visit the official SVdP Twin Cities directory to find the Catholic parish conference nearest your home.
- Step 2: Leave a message: Call the parish office number serving your neighborhood. Specifically ask to leave a message for the St. Vincent de Paul conference member. Be sure to provide your full name, a valid phone number, and a brief description of your emergency.
- Step 3: Response via home visit: SVdP relies on a unique model of personal contact. A pair of local “Vincentian” volunteers will call you back to schedule a home visit. They will come to your home to listen to your situation in a safe environment, review your bills, and directly coordinate the delivery of emergency funds.
Free stores and food distribution events
If you need material goods rather than help paying bills, there is no need to wait for a home visit. SVdP coordinates regional distribution events open to any Twin Cities resident in need:
St. Paul Free Store: Held on the second Sunday of every month at the Church of St. Bernard (187 Geranium Ave W, St. Paul). The store is open from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and distributes thousands of pounds of food, personal hygiene products, clothing, and household items free of charge.
Winter coat distribution: Every autumn, SVdP organizes coat distribution drives at parishes in the urban centers of Minneapolis and St. Paul, providing families with thousands of heavy jackets and pieces of outerwear—both new and gently used.
The Salvation Army of the Twin Cities
The Salvation Army of the Twin Cities operates multiple local worship and service centers throughout the metropolitan area. Instead of processing applications through a single regional office, emergency financial aid and household vouchers are managed at the community level. This means your eligibility is determined strictly by your residential zip code.
Key Financial and Household Assistance Programs
If your household meets locally established income limits, a service center may draw upon emergency funds or its own inventory to provide:
HeatShare and GAP (Gas Affordability Program): A flagship Salvation Army program offering emergency funds specifically to pay overdue electricity, natural gas, propane, or water bills. If you have received a formal service disconnection notice, you can call the dedicated HeatShare line directly at 1-800-842-7279.
Emergency Rental Assistance: Local centers manage variable funds intended to help pay overdue rent or security deposits in order to prevent imminent eviction. The availability of rental funds varies from month to month based on donor contributions.
Thrift Store Vouchers: These are issued to families who have experienced job loss, house fires, or extreme crisis situations, allowing them to obtain furniture, clothing, and blankets free of charge from local Salvation Army stores.
Transportation Assistance: Bus passes or fuel funds allocated specifically to help individuals get to confirmed medical appointments or new places of employment.
Location Directory & Intake Lines
To request emergency financial assistance, you must contact the branch serving your neighborhood directly to verify current fund availability or schedule an appointment:
South Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs
Center: East Lake Street Corps (1604 E Lake St, Minneapolis)
Phone and hours: Call (612) 721-1513. Financial assistance requests are handled on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., by appointment only.
North Minneapolis
Center: North Minneapolis Corps (2027 West Broadway, Minneapolis)
Phone and hours: Call (612) 522-4871 to schedule an appointment for the food pantry (client-choice) or for a financial assistance assessment.
St. Paul (Ramsey County Center)
Center: St. Paul Citadel Center (401 West 7th Street, St. Paul)
Phone and hours: Call (651) 224-4316 to inquire about current program requirements.
St. Paul Eastside
Center: St. Paul Eastside Corps (1019 Payne Ave, St. Paul)
Phone and hours: Call (651) 776-8169.
Rental assistance and housing solutions
Most churches require you to apply for emergency funds from the county before they will consider covering past-due rent. If you have been denied county assistance, these programs can step in to meet those needs:
The Basilica’s Eviction Prevention Program
In partnership with Align Minneapolis, the Basilica of Saint Mary offers an emergency rent assistance program. Applicants are seen on a first-come, first-served basis on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the lower level. To qualify, you must reside within the Minneapolis city limits, owe a total of less than $3,000 in back rent (covering a period of no more than three months), and provide a formal denial letter from the Hennepin County Emergency Assistance program.
Catholic Charities Twin Cities
While their administrative offices do not provide direct cash payments for rent, their Opportunity Center in Minneapolis serves as a vital hub for individuals facing housing instability. They offer essential services such as shelter-related legal referrals, case management, access to affordable single-occupancy housing, and secure mailboxes for those seeking housing or public benefits.
Food banks and community meals
For immediate food assistance, you can access these parish-supported programs without undergoing a complex verification process:
Keystone Community Services (St. Paul and Ramsey County)
Keystone has consolidated its former neighborhood food banks (including the Rice Street and former Midway locations) into a single, comprehensive regional facility:
Main Center: The Keystone Community Food Center is located at 1800 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55104 (situated between Wendy’s and Arby’s, at the corner of Fairview and University Ave).
Hours of operation:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Access guidelines: No appointment or registration is required; participants are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to daily household capacity limits, arriving at the start of the service window is strongly recommended.
Frequency: You may shop once a month (you do not need to wait a full 30 days between months) and may also access up to 4 emergency visits per year if needed.
Requirements: You do not need to present photo ID or proof of address to receive food, although having the names and dates of birth of all household members ready speeds up the registration process. Please bring your own reusable bags if you have them.
Iglesia Dios Habla Hoy (DHH) (South Minneapolis)
Instead of operating a traditional soup kitchen or walk-in food pantry, Iglesia Dios Habla Hoy (DHH) addresses food insecurity in South Minneapolis through an active ministry focused on home delivery:
Food and supply delivery: DHH Church runs an emergency food delivery program that brings boxes of groceries, fresh staples, and household items directly to residents’ homes.
How to access: Assistance is coordinated digitally. Neighbors in need of help should submit an online request via the DHH Church food delivery registration link.
Service areas: Deliveries are organized within South Minneapolis neighborhoods to support low-income families, homebound individuals, and families lacking reliable transportation.
