Voucher-Friendly Housing in Minneapolis

MPHA operates nearly 6,000 homes across the city — including 42 high-rise buildings, the Glendale Townhomes family community, and more than 700 scattered-site family homes — along with the Housing Choice Voucher program. Rent in MPHA public housing is income-based, set at roughly 30% of adjusted household income.

MPHA maintains waitlists for public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program. Waitlists open and close periodically depending on availability and funding, and high-rise and family housing lists are handled separately. Check current status directly with MPHA at mphaonline.org before applying, and never pay to apply.

Minneapolis protects renters from source-of-income discrimination through a city ordinance adopted in 2017. Landlords generally may not refuse to rent to you, or advertise "no Section 8," simply because you would pay with a Housing Choice Voucher. A group of landlords challenged the ordinance, and the Minnesota Supreme Court upheld it in 2020 (Fletcher Properties, Inc. v. City of Minneapolis). Two important limits: the ordinance contains an exception for landlords who would face an "undue hardship," and Minnesota has no statewide protection — so this right comes from city law and applies within Minneapolis, not across the state.

Apply through the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) at mphaonline.org when waitlists are open. Rent is based on income (about 30% of adjusted household income); eligibility is generally limited to households at or below local income limits. Applications are free — never pay to apply.