With changes around COVID-19, VEAP’s Social Services department is now following a modified process for delivering our services. Currently, our staff are working with participants strictly over the phone and via email. Please do not come in person to the VEAP office to visit a Social Services staff member during this time.
What number should I call?
To speak with a member from our team about help with rental assistance, housing issues, or any other needs, please call our main number:
- English 952-888-9616, follow prompts
- Spanish: 952-888-9616 option 1, follow prompts
Phone is the preferred method of communication. If you do not have a phone but are able to email, you may contact us at info@veap.org
When will someone call me back?
Due to an increase in requests for housing assistance, it may take us longer to return your call than usual. Please only leave one message when you call. Leaving multiple messages causes our voicemail to reach capacity and prohibits new callers from being able to leave messages. When you call, you will need to leave a voicemail. Make sure your phone is set up to receive calls so we have a way of reaching you. We will return your call Monday – Friday between the hours of 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Current return call wait times for Social Services:
English speakers:
- For housing related requests: 7 business days
- For non-housing related requests: 2 business days
Spanish speakers:
- For housing related requests: 7 business days
- For non-housing related requests: 2 business days
The above wait times are for help from our social services team. For food appointments, please call 952-888-9616 Monday – Friday from 9 – 4:30. You may be placed on hold for 5-10 minutes depending on volume of calls.
We are currently working to decrease the wait times by recruiting interpreters, hiring an additional bilingual staff, and deploying admin support.
What will I need to provide?
Once we contact you, a member of our team will complete an assessment with you. In the assessment, we will ask about:
- Current housing situation
- Ages and relationship of household members
- Sources of income and amounts over the past 60 days for adults in the household
- Available resources and benefit participation status for adults in the household
Immigration status may be asked; however, we do not track or share this information externally. The only reason we may ask is to determine for which additional non-VEAP benefits you may qualify. VEAP does not request any documentation to show legal status and status is not a factor in eligibility for program participation.
What kind of help may I receive?
VEAP provides financial housing assistance to qualified households in the form of a grant. We do not offer loans. There is no expectation that you will pay back any assistance you receive. If eligible, all payments are issued directly to property owners or rental offices. No payments will be issued directly to tenants or family members of tenants.
*VEAP prioritizes assistance for those with limited financial resources and assets.*
Our program is not a “first-come-first-served” model. Calling earlier in the month does not guarantee assistance or increase your chance of receiving financial assistance.
Thank you for your patience during this time as we work to assist people as quickly as possible!
