Dakota County

Dakota County Coordinated Entry

What you need to do:

Dakota County is part of the Suburban Metro Area Continuum of CARE (SMAC) and households need to complete a Coordinated Entry Assessment to be placed on their resource priority list. The Dakota County Housing Resource Line cannot schedule or complete assessments. Specific eligibility for the assessment can be found on SMAC’s website but generally requires circumstances that include living in a place not meant for human habitation or residing in an emergency shelter. 

If an individual believes that they meet these requirements, they should work with their Housing case manager to complete a Coordinated Entry assessment. If they do not have a Housing case manager but believe that they are eligible, then they can contact the following agencies:

  • Dakota County families and adults should call Ally Supportive Services at 612-875-9683.
  • Dakota County youth (ages 24 or younger) should call The Link’s C.O.R.E. Drop-in Center at 612-205-7944 or visit The Link C.O.R.E. Drop-in Center to meet with the Youth Coordinated Entry Specialist. C.O.R.E. is located inside Grace Lutheran Church, the address is:

Grace Lutheran Church // C.O.R.E. Drop-In Center
7800 W County Road 42
Apple Valley, MN 55124

For more information regarding C.O.R.E visit https://thelinkmn.org/core/

You can work with the Dakota County Housing Resource Line to help find and understand available resources.
• Call the Housing Resource Line at 651-554-5751, option #1
• Email the Housing Resource Line at housingresource@co.dakota.mn.us
• Meet with a social worker from the Housing Resource Line on the third floor of the Northern Service Center (walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 4:00pm)

Dakota County Social Services does not distribute housing vouchers. The main sources for housing vouchers in Dakota County are the Dakota County Community Development Agency and Coordinated Entry.

The Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) provides local, state, and federal rental assistance programs to the residents of Dakota County. To learn more about these programs and how to apply, click here.