Rental Housing Market Rate
Market rate rental developments charge a regular monthly fee. This monthly fee, or rent, may vary depending on when someone moves into a building, the size of the apartment, and services/amenities that may be included with the rent. Some buildings offer a variety of services, while others offer few or no services. It is important to understand what is included in the monthly rent and what is available at an additional cost. (For a more comprehensive listing of developments providing services/programs for older adults, please see the "Assisted Living " section of this web site.)

In market rate rental developments, residents typically will sign a lease, a document that specifies the rental period and conditions, the rent to be charged, what's included in the rent, and resident/owner rights and obligations.

Residents may pay a security deposit when a lease is signed. Under Minnesota law this is refundable, with interest, when the resident complies with the lease provisions and gives proper notice for moving out.

Rental Housing Subsidized
Subsidized rental developments offer affordable rents to income qualified seniors and handicapped/disabled persons. Financial assistance is available through a number of federal programs. In many developments residents pay approximately 30% of their income for rent. In some buildings a schedule is used; these rents are lower than non-subsidized rents in that community.

Public Housing Included in this section are separate listings for public housing in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Public housing is one type of subsidized housing in which residents pay approximately 30% of their income for rent.

Public Housing in Saint Paul and Minneapolis Public housing in St. Paul that is "Designated as Senior Only" means it is reserved for tenants that are 62 or older and no one younger than 62 is allowed to live in the building. Public housing in Minneapolis that is "Designated 55+" means that people 55 and older are considered first for residence. If the apartment is not filled in a certain amount of time, younger people are then considered. Look for these designations in the grids under the address of the complex.

Eligibility There are certain criteria that must be met to be eligible for subsidized housing. The maximum allowable income is determined by federally mandated eligibility income limits. These are determined and revised annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Most developments are designated as having Very Low-Income (VLI) limits or Low-Income (LI) limits. Eligibility income limits are noted for each listing. Most of the listed buildings require applicants to be at least 62 years old or handicapped/disabled. Some listings allow a wide range of age groups as residents, but are included in this section because of the large number of seniors living in the complexes. You will need to check with these developments to find out their specific entrance requirements.

Waiting Lists Most of the developments have waiting lists. It is important to plan ahead and contact the managers of the buildings of your choice, or the appropriate housing authority, to get your name on the waiting list. It is legal to be on several waiting lists at the same time. An applicant has not promised to move into a building just because he/she is on the waiting list. Applicants are screened and information must be verified by the developments.