Does staying in homeless shelter in Minnesota affect the 12 month in state residency requirements?

Hi everyone,

I moved to Minnesota from out of state and have been staying in a homeless shelter here since late March / early April 2026.

I’m trying to understand how this affects in-state tuition eligibility in Minnesota.

My questions are:

1] Does living in a homeless shelter count toward establishing Minnesota domicile for the 12-month in-state residency requirement?

2] Are there any exceptions or flexibility in Minnesota residency rules for people experiencing homelessness or housing instability?

3] What kind of documentation do schools typically accept in these cases (shelter letters, case worker verification, etc.)?

4] Are any Minnesota colleges or universities more flexible with residency appeals in situations like this?

I’m just trying to understand how this works in practice and what my options might be.

Any advice or experience would be appreciated.

Thanks.