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What is Housing Support and how does it help with assisted living costs?

Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) is a narrower Minnesota state supplement, separate from the Elderly Waiver, that can help very-lo

Quick answer

Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) is a narrower Minnesota state supplement, separate from the Elderly Waiver, that can help very-low-income residents in certain licensed settings offset room-and-board costs — something the Elderly Waiver itself is not permitted to pay for.

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Answer

Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) is a narrower Minnesota state supplement, separate from the Elderly Waiver, that can help very-low-income residents in certain licensed settings offset room-and-board costs — something the Elderly Waiver itself is not permitted to pay for.

The detail behind the number

Housing Support fills a specific gap in Minnesota's system: because federal Medicaid rules bar the Elderly Waiver from paying room and board, low-income residents who've already qualified for Medical Assistance and the Elderly Waiver can still face an unaffordable room-and-board bill at an assisted living facility. Housing Support is designed to close that gap for residents in qualifying settings, though not every assisted living community in the metro participates in the program, and eligibility and payment amounts are more restrictive than standard Medical Assistance. Families should ask a prospective Twin Cities community directly whether it accepts Housing Support and whether specific units or apartments within the building are designated for it, since availability is often limited even within a participating facility.

Related questions

Questions families ask

What is Housing Support and how does it help with assisted living costs?

Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) is a narrower Minnesota state supplement, separate from the Elderly Waiver, that can help very-low-income residents in certain licensed settings offset room-and-board costs — something the Elderly Waiver itself is not permitted to pay for.

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