RENT, UTILITY, AND DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE

Eligibility Requirements

  • Residency: Live in one of the following cities - Hopkins, Minnetonka, Excelsior, Shorewood, Deephaven, Greenwood, or Woodland.

    • If you have a student in Minnetonka or Hopkins schools, there may be exceptions to our regional criteria. School personnel should email jessica@icafoodshelf.org to begin the pre-screen process for an out of region family that attends one of these schools.

  • Previous ICA Assistance: Have not received the same type of assistance from ICA in the past 12 months. For example, if you received rent assistance, you cannot receive rent assistance again within 12 months, but you may still qualify for utility or deposit assistance.

  • Proof of Income: Have income and demonstrate ability to pay ongoing bills.

Assistance Caps and Guidelines

ICA can provide assistance up to the following amounts, once every twelve months:

  • Monthly Rent Payment: up to $1,800

  • Deposit: up to $1,500

  • Utility Payment: up to $700

If your bill is higher, you must have a plan to pay the remaining amount.

Application Process

Step 1 PRE-SCREEN: Start the pre-screen process by calling 952.938.0729 or walking in to 11588 K-Tel Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55343.

  • The pre-screen is not an application or a guarantee of assistance. It helps us quickly see if there is a simple reason we cannot assist you, saving you a trip and paperwork. If you pass the pre-screen, the next step is meeting with a case worker during walk-in hours.

Step 2 GATHER DOCUMENTS: These are things you will need if you move forward and it helps to bring them to walk-in hours: ID, proof of income, copy of utility bill, rent ledger, deposit invoice.

Step 3 WALK-IN: If you meet pre-screen criteria, come to walk in hours to finish the eligibility process and complete your application. Walk-in hours at 11588 K-Tel Drive, Minnetonka are:

  • Tuesday or Thursday (all languages) 10 AM – 3 PM

  • Friday (Spanish ONLY) 9 AM - 12 PM

Step 4 ONGOING HELP: For assistance with an application in process, contact the case worker who helped you or come to walk-in hours.

  • ICA phone volunteers are not able to take messages for case workers due to the demand and call volume during open hours.

Operation Metro Surge Related Assistance

Metro Surge related assistance is a separate process. The last day for this type of assistance is June 30.

  • New Metro Surge applicants begin their applications via a link from a school contact, caseworker, employer, or other resource.

  • Returning Metro Surge applicants should contact the caseworker that helped them with previous assistance.

  • Walk-in hours: For questions or requests for extra assistance, visit ICA during walk-in hours, listed above.

Find other community resources here.