Emergency Shelter
Dakota County partners with local agencies to provide resources for people experiencing homelessness.
County resources
Dakota County partners with local agencies to provide outreach services for people experiencing street homelessness in Dakota County.
The video is also available in Spanish and Somali.
For families and adults
Dakota County families and adults experiencing street homelessness can be connected to Ally Supportive Services for support and resources at 612-875-9683.
Ally staff offers outreach drop-in hours at the following locations:
- Wentworth Library: Thursdays from noon-2 p.m.
- Burnhaven Library: Drop-in hours suspended until spring 2027 while the library is closed for renovations.
The Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program in Minnesota provides street outreach, case management and mental health or substance use support for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The program is for people who have a serious mental illness or a substance use disorder. In Dakota County, you can access these services through several dedicated local agencies that actively locate and engage unsheltered individuals:
- Guild Services: Offers PATH outreach services by helping individuals get on housing waitlists and connecting them to basic needs, treatment and community resources. Call Guild at 651-703-2270.
- Handy Help: Provides PATH outreach services to individuals experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Call Handy Help at 651-760-3236.
Guild and Handy Help provide PATH outreach drop-in hours at the Wentworth Library the following days:
- Guild Services: Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m.
- Handy Help: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
For youth (ages 24 or younger)
Dakota County youth experiencing street homelessness can be connected to The Link's C.O.R.E. Drop-in Center at 612-205-7944.
Dakota County partners with local agencies to help people experiencing homelessness in Dakota County. Emergency shelter resources are in high demand and are limited based on funding availability and eligibility criteria.
The video is also available in Spanish and Somali.
Emergency shelter for adults
Individuals could be eligible to access alternate shelter resources through their assigned Dakota County case manager or other community service providers.
For those fleeing domestic or sexual violence, contact Lewis House at 651-452-7288.
If adults need help navigating resources, contact the Dakota County Housing Resource Line at 651-554-5751, option #1.
Emergency shelter for families
Dakota County families with minor children in need of emergency shelter should call Dakota County's Housing Resource Line to be screened for shelter eligibility at 651-554-5751, option #1.
For those fleeing domestic or sexual violence, contact Lewis House at 651-452-7288.
Emergency shelter for youth (24 years or younger)
Individuals who are 24 years or younger can find help using the Youth Services Network. It shows where to find shelters, outreach workers, drop-in centers and other things.
Dakota County youth (ages 18–24) who are unsheltered or in danger of not having a place to stay, should call Dakota County's Housing Resource Line at 651-554-5751, option #2 to be connected to The Link.
If youth need help navigating resources, contact the Dakota County Housing Resource Line at 651-554-5751, option #1.
Dakota County monitors local weather to determine when weather conditions meet the threshold for activating the Extreme Weather Plan.
Generally, extreme cold is defined as when the temperature reaches minus 5 degrees or the windchill reaches minus 25 degrees for more than two hours. Generally, extreme heat is defined as the daytime temperature reaching 95 degrees and no less than 75 degrees overnight for two consecutive days.
However, the safety of unsheltered individuals is the determining factor and weather criteria could vary.
During this time, unsheltered individuals should contact Ally Supportive Services to learn what resources are available at 612-875-9683.