‘Bring It Home’ rental assistance program in Aitkin and Mille Lacs counties

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Aitkin County (Aitkin County HRA) has announced it has been awarded funding ($437,802) from Minnesota
Housing to implement the “Bring It Home” rental assistance program in Aitkin and Mille Lacs Counties.
The Bring It Home program is state-funded through appropriations and a metro sales tax for housing. Awards are made to program administrators
across the state to provide rental assistance to qualifying households, with a priority for extremely low (30% AMI (Area Median Income)
or below) income households with minor children.
The initial program grant term is two years. The amount awarded will be used for one-time start-up costs for the new program as well as the
first two years of rental assistance and administrative fees for approximately 27 households in Aitkin and Mille Lacs counties. As a result of
this new program, the Aitkin County HRA expects to increase its staff by one part-time position. Once the program award contracting process has been completed,
the agency will begin an education and recruitment campaign to reach potential participants, as well as landlords and supportive service providers.

Program materials, including a pre-application, will be available from the Aitkin County HRA’s office later this year. Rental assistance is
anticipated to begin in January 2026.