Emergency Assistance

Please note: COVID-19 relief funds are no longer available.

Emergency Assistance (EA) and Emergency General Assistance (EGA) help with shelter, such as a security deposit or past due rent/mortgage. EA and EGA also help pay for utilities, when there is threat of disconnection. Utilities include electricity, heat and water.

• Emergency Assistance helps adults with children, and pregnant women. Those who qualify for Emergency Assistance can receive up to two months' payment for their share of rent/mortgage and up to $1,800 in utility assistance.
   
• Emergency General Assistance helps adults without children. Those who qualify for Emergency General Assistance can receive up to two month's payment for their share of rent/mortgage or utilities, or a combined payment of up to $812.

Assistance eligibility

You may be eligible if:

• You have not received EA/EGA help in the last 12 months.
• Your income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline for household size. 
• You you do not have enough resources to resolve your crisis.
• You can show you have enough income to pay bills moving forward.

Apply for emergency help

• If you ARE NOT already receiving public assistance, or your case closed more than 30 days ago, you can apply for EA/EGA online at applymn.dhs.mn.gov or by calling the Intake Hotline at 651-266-4444. You can also request a “Combined Application” from the Intake Hotline and email your application to [email protected].
   
• If you ARE receiving public assistance through Ramsey County and have an open case (SNAP, healthcare, or cash assistance), fill out the application and email it to: [email protected] or fax to 651-266-3909. You may also call your caseworker or the Emergency Assistance Hotline at 651-266-4884 to apply.

EA/EGA application for those with open assistance cases