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Bridges Program

Minnesota Housing, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Administration (DHS-BHA) and Housing, Homeless and Support Services Administration (DHS-HHSSA), manages the Bridges Rental Assistance Program and Bridges Regional Treatment Center (RTC) Rental Assistance Program (collectively referred to as the Bridges Program). The Bridges Program provides temporary rental assistance and funds for fees necessary to maintain and foster the integration of people with mental illness into their communities in accordance with Minnesota Statute 462A.2097 and Minnesota Rule 4900.3767.

Housing agencies awarded Bridges Program funding will establish a rental housing assistance program for low-income people with mental illness. The rental subsidy is temporary and intended to bridge the housing gap between permanent affordable housing and exiting institutions, segregated settings, supervised release, and homelessness.

The Bridges Program operates as a partnership between the housing agency that provides housing subsidies, a local mental health entity, behavioral health service agency/agencies, and partners providing housing stabilization services to connect participants with housing supports and mental health services. Each housing agency administering the Bridges Program must enter into a Cooperative Agreement with a local mental health entity and identify partnerships with a behavioral health service agency/agencies to coordinate the implementation of the program.

Bridges and Bridges RTC Rental Assistance Program Guide - 2025-2027 Contract Term

Bridges and Bridges RTC Rental Assistance Program Guide - 2027-2029 Contract Term

  Request for Proposals Applications Now Open!

Participant Information

Bridges Rental Assistance Program Providers – Find a Bridges Rental Assistance Program administrator

Eligible Bridges Rental Assistance Program Participants

Under the Bridges Program, an eligible participant must meet the following requirements:

  • The head of household or other household member is 18 years of age or over and has a diagnosed mental illness, as defined in Minn. Stat. 245.462, subd. 20 (a), verified by a mental health professional; and
  • The household is eligible to receive an HCV or other permanent housing option or can become eligible based on successful participation in the Bridges Program; and
  • The gross income of the household at the time of initial eligibility is at or below 50% of the area median income for the household size.

Housing agencies will work with eligible participants and must give priority to the populations identified below, with highest priority given to those in category 1:

  1. Category 1: People living in an institution, segregated setting, or under correctional supervision who will be homeless upon exit.
  2. Category 2: Households experiencing homelessness who are assessed as high priority homeless through the coordinated entry system, including individuals, families with children, and youth (age 18+).
  3. Category 3: Households experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness.
Eligible Bridges RTC Rental Assistance Program Participants

Under the Bridges RTC Program, an eligible participant must meet the following requirements:

  • The individual is an eligible participant under the Bridges Program; and
  • The individual is receiving in-patient care at the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) or Forensic Mental Health Program and does not meet hospital level of care; or
  • The individual was a patient at the AMRTC or Forensic Mental Health Program prior to entering an intensive residential treatment services (IRTS) facility or other treatment facility; and
  • The individual has significant or complex barriers to accessing and retaining housing; and
  • The individual is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness upon AMRTC or Forensic Mental Health Program discharge.

Request for Proposals Application Information

Minnesota Housing is now accepting Bridges Program Request for Proposals (RFP) applications.  Awards are subject to all policies established by the Minnesota Department of Administration Office of Grants Management.

Applications are due by noon Central time on Wednesday, January 13, 2027.

Minnesota Housing anticipates awarding up to $14,000,000 in grant funds to be used during the grant term of July 1, 2027-June 30, 2029. The available funding may be adjusted and is contingent on the amount awarded by the Minnesota Legislature.

Virtual Information Session 

Join Minnesota Housing staff to learn more about the Bridges Program RFP application. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend.

Bridges Program RFP Information Session
Thursday, November 12, 2026
10:00-11:00 a.m. Central time

Register Here

The information session will provide an overview of the Bridges Program RFP, including RFP content, and allow time for questions.

Eligible Applicants

Housing agencies (housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, and Tribal Nations) are eligible to apply for Bridges Program funding in partnership with a local mental health entity (LMH entity) to implement the program. The partnership must identify behavioral health service partners that will serve participants in the service Area.

Eligible Uses

Bridges Program funds available through this RFP may be used for the following:

  • Monthly administrative fees
  • Lease-up fees
  • Direct payment to property owners for subsidy portions of the rent
  • Direct payment to property owners for security deposits
  • Direct payment to property owners for application fees
  • Direct payment to property owners for vacancy payments and damage claims
  • Direct payment to utility companies for utility connection fees
  • Direct payment to financial assurance/risk mitigation programs to provide housing to potential participants
Application Materials and Resources
Application Submission Instructions

Submit application materials using Minnesota Housing’s Secure Upload Tool no later than noon Central time on Wednesday, January 13, 2027, to be considered for funding. Using the online tool, send items to mhfa.app@state.mn.us. Review the Secure Upload Tool Instructions for more information.

Do not convert required documents into other formats. Documents must be uploaded in their original format, with the exception of the Application Signature Page which may be submitted as a PDF.

Submitted applications are considered final. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered. Minnesota Housing may request additional information or clarification. Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with applying for this RFP.

Administration Information

Administration information is for grantees that are currently receiving program funding.

Sample Cooperative Agreement

2026 Annual Bridges Program Meeting: Bridges annual 2026 meeting: Watch the recording (00:51:44)

Program Qualification and Administrative Forms
Leasing Forms
Participant Briefing Materials
Draw Request Form and Submittal Instructions

The draw request workbook is secured with a password that must be entered each time the workbook is opened. This added security measure will protect confidential participant data. Before attempting to open or download this file, you must request the password by sending an email to Minnesota Housing rental assistance staff members. The draw request is submitted monthly by housing agencies and due by the 15th of each month.

Bridges Program Draw Request Form (XLSM) Updated 7.1.2026 – For Bridges Program grantee use only.

You may be prompted to open the file vs. save the file; use the Save As option. After downloading the file, encoded Microsoft securities can be enabled.

Submit draw requests using Minnesota Housing's Secure Upload Tool. Using the online tool, send items to mhfa.rental-assistance@state.mn.us. Review the Secure Upload Tool Instructions for more information.

Draw Request Form Tutorials

Trainings and Tutorials

The draw request form tutorials below outline accurate reporting requirements that are generic to a variety of Minnesota Housing rental assistance programs. However, the Bridges Program requires additional field inputs, which are excluded from the tutorials. Use the instructions in the Bridges Program Draw Request Form for more information on how to accurately report all necessary details.

Downloading the Draw Request Form (15:54) – Goes over how to download the draw request form, import data from a previous workbook, and save and submit for reimbursement and program compliance.

Part I: Draw Request Form Functionality (16:05) – Outlines the features of the draw request form and various functions and calculations.

Part II: Draw Request Form Monthly Log (16:52) – Details the Monthly Log tab of the workbook and goes over automated calculations and formulas, rounding, prorating, and how to report suspensions and terminations.

Certifications and Name Changes (18:29) – Outlines the differences between annuals, interims, unit transfers, and suspensions and goes over terminations, how to report late certifications, and head of household and name changes.

Housing Related Expenses, Utility Reimbursements, and Adjustments (11:56) – Outlines housing related expenses, utility reimbursements (also known as excess utility expenses), and adjustments.