COMBINED MANUAL
BRIDGES HOUSING SUBSIDY
ISSUE DATE 10/2003
0029.20.12
The Bridges program is a rental assistance program for people with serious and persistent mental illness who are waiting for a
permanent housing subsidy. It provides a housing subsidy for families in which at least 1 adult member has a serious and
persistent mental illness. Household gross income must be under 50% of the area median.
Bridges is a program meant to fill the gap between a person paying a large portion of his/her income toward housing or having no
place to live, and getting federal or other permanent housing subsidies. In order to successfully “bridge” between these housing
circumstances, the individual must be able to slide onto a Section 8 housing voucher when their name comes to the top of that
waiting list. Bridges funds may be used to pay rent directly to a landlord, or for contract rent, security and utility deposits, and
utility costs, for up to 90 days during medical or psychiatric crisis.
Bridges is administered by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Human Services Mental Health
Division. Refer people who are potentially eligible to their local housing agency or local mental health authority.
Housing subsidies under this program are not counted as income, see 0017.15.99 (Housing Subsidy).