State Agency Resources

Discrimination and Civil Rights Violations 

 If you feel that you have been discriminated against or that your civil rights have been violated, please file a complaint with the Dept. of Human rights by clicking here They can also be reached by phone at 1-833-454-0148. 

Child Protection Services

Ann Hill: Ombudperson for Families (Government agency)– works directly with CPS specifically for African American families. Email address: ann.hill@state.mn.us Phone: 651-642-0897

 

Kelis Houston: Village Arms, a Christ centered non-profit organization dedicated to aiding and assisting African American families with CPS. Phone: 612-440-7656

 

Small Business Help:

The Dept. of Economic and Employment Development (DEED), Deputy Commissioner Warfa, is hosting community calls on varies topics including small business assistance and unemployment insurance benefits every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4:00 pm. Questions can be submitted beforehand by clicking here 

The dial in number is 415-655-0003 and the code is 969-724-973

 

Health Insurance Help:

 Minnesotans who received unemployment income at any time in 2021 now can access extremely low-cost health insurance through MNsure.

The new benefits were implemented as part of the American Rescue Plan legislation enacted earlier this year. New federal subsidies for private health insurance on MNsure act as an instant discount for consumers, lowering the cost for monthly premiums. Some Minnesotans can find a plan with a premium as low as $0 per month.

MNsure encourages anyone who received unemployment income for at least one week in 2021 to check out their options. If you are uninsured or enrolled in a plan outside of MNsure and qualify for this benefit, you will have a 60-day special enrollment period to shop for coverage and select a private health insurance plan with a low monthly cost or even a $0/month premium. Current MNsure enrollees who qualify also can use this opportunity to change to a $0/month premium plan.

Wondering if you may qualify? Free help is always available through MNsure. Visit MNsure.org and select “Find free help” to get started today.

For more information click here

 

Unemployment Insurance Help:

The Minnesota Department of Unemployment Insurance has transformed their website and response times to adapt to the influx of people applying for unemployment. Information provided includes applying for unemployment benefits, information on what happens after you apply and a Q & A about business hour reductions and layoffs. One of the Governor’s Executive Orders waives fees for employers, so that unemployment checks can be sent out sooner. For more information on unemployment and to apply click here.

Self-Employed people and Independent Contractors are able to gain access to benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. It specifically provides benefits to people who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits, such as those that are self-employed, independent contractors, workers in non-covered employment, people who lack sufficient work history to get regular unemployment benefits and people living in a household where the head of household has died as a result of COVID-19. This is a new program and payments started being issued in April. For more information on this new program click here.

CareerForce is hosting online Job Fairs and offering resume creation help. Click here for a full listing of dates and times for their upcoming events. 

The Dept. of Economic and Employment Development (DEED), Deputy Commissioner Warfa, is hosting community calls on varies topics including small business assistance and unemployment insurance benefits every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4:00 pm. Questions can be submitted beforehand by clicking here The dial in number is 415-655-0003 and the code is 969-724-973

 

Energy Assistance Program (EAP):

Quick Facts:

·       Renters & homeowners are eligible. Assets such as the home are not considered in determining eligibility. Grants range from $200 to $1,400, based on household size, income, and fuel cost. The average grant is about $500. In addition to the initial grant, additional Crisis funds are available to:

·         ·       Help pay a past due bill or get an emergency fuel delivery.

·         ·       Help homeowners get their broken furnace repaired or replaced.

·         ·       The annual Crisis maximum is increased to $1,200 (up from $600).

·         ·       Income eligibility is based on past one month

How to apply:

·         ·       Households contact their local EAP service provider to apply for EAP.

·         ·       Households find their EAP provider:

·            By calling 1-800-657-3710 & entering their zip code, or by clicking here

 

General information on EAP can be found by clicking here  

 

Food Assistance:

Using authority granted in a bipartisan bill passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Tim Walz, Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead today signed a joint disaster declaration, which will be submitted along with Minnesota’s application for Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (E-SNAP) funding. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to approve an agreement that preserves $45 million per month in E-SNAP funding for Minnesotans who need help buying groceries, even after the state’s peacetime emergency ended on July 1.

For more information on SNAP, visit the state’s COVID-19 emergency food support webpage. The Minnesota Food Helpline provides assistance to people seeking food and application help at 1-888-711-1151. 

 

Housing:

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

This foundation may be able to assist with property taxes and moving expenses in crisis situations. Contact Arbadella Williams: Arbadella.Williams@spmcf.org