Some of the clients of Olmsted Community Action Agency are low income families and people who are trying to escape poverty. The case managers from the non-profit help the clients with the challenges they are facing, help them access the government benefits available in Minnesota or give them emergency aid if needed. The programs at this agency are funded by a mix of government grants from CSBG and private donations.
Job placement and educational services
The Community Services Block Grant provides most of the funding for the agency’s case management department. This department helps people in need to become self-sufficient. This is achieved by providing job training, referring to employment, and improving economic assets. The process will focus on family and other support systems. The Olmsted County Community Action department provides emergency services in Rochester and other cities. There is help available if you need it just for a short time or if you need it for a long time.
The staff helps clients achieve long-term goals through the family self-sufficiency program. The service provides families in crisis with the tools they need to become more independent over time. Individuals receive assistance with finding and buying a home, getting a job, and even getting their criminal records removed in some cases.
FSSP provides job training support as well. For example, the Olmsted County driver license commercial program provides referrals to services that can help people obtain a driver’s license, and the IDA program provides individual development accounts that can help people save money.
Individuals who are self-sufficient focus on different needs than those who are not. The availability of low-income housing is just one factor that can affect someone’s ability to get a job, go to school, stay healthy, afford child care, and have enough to eat.
Community action agencies help families or individuals that enroll by developing specific goals and objectives, and evaluating the clients progress as they move beyond crisis situations. The organization provides financial support to help individuals follow educational and vocational pursuits and works to eliminate barriers to entry in the workforce.
The agency helps clients get GEDs, go to trade school or college, and find jobs. If needed, the resident is referred to other community resources, such as a one-stop job center, to help them with their needs.
Funds and grants for bills from Olmsted Community Action
The referral process will include information on how to get help for basic needs, such as food, housing, and clothing. The agency has information on charities and other groups that may offer emergency funds for certain expenses, such as rent to stop an eviction. There are also programs that can help with things like food, clothing, and referrals to other places that can help. A key goal of any rent or food program offered in Olmsted County is to prevent homelessness and hunger.
The state of Minnesota provides cash grants for homeless prevention in addition to other programs. These funds are meant to be pro-active in nature. The money will be used to pay overdue rent in an emergency, or the homeless can get funds for moving costs or a deposit on a new, low income home.
The agency operates a federally funded program in Minnesota called the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This income-based program provides grants from the government to help pay for home heating and cooling needs.
In the state of Minnesota, there are two types of LIHEAP service. The first part of this program helps eligible households pay for their monthly utility bills.
If a household is in danger of not being able to pay for their home energy, crisis assistance can provide up to two payments to help cover the cost of the bill. This is the second component and it is available during the program year – once between October and March for heating purposes and once between April and September for paying cooling bills.
The Olmsted Community Action Program also manages weatherization. This program can help homeowners save energy by making their homes more efficient. People who meet low-income limits are the priority.
The updates will help homeowners save money on their monthly energy bills. This program provides services to improve energy efficiency by addressing electric units that waste energy, as well as air infiltration. The organization applies weather stripping, replaces windows and doors, installs attic ventilation and solar screens, and repairs or replaces inefficient heating and cooling units and water heaters.
Solar reflective coating is a type of paint that is applied to the outside of manufactured homes. This coating helps to reflect sunlight and keep the home cooler. There will be suggestions and free advice on how households can save money on water costs.
Both the Head Start and Early Head Start programs help low-income families with young children. These programs provide development and support services for the children, parents, and entire families. It emphasizes education and long-term development. These services cover everything you need.
These programs are designed to help children aged five and under to be ready for school. They do this by helping them grow emotionally, mentally and physically. The Head Start program will focus on improving health, education, nutrition and socialization for children, as well as developing parents’ and community members’ skills.
Children who are able to enroll in this program will be able to receive free physical and dental care, as well as healthy meals and a safe place to play both indoors and outdoors. The involvement of parents and social services is essential for the success of the programs. A family advocate helps each family to assess their needs and develop written goals. These goals are monitored throughout the year.
Applying for assistance from Olmsted Community Action Agency
If you want to learn more about the programs offered by the agency, you can call them at (507) 328-6345. The offices are also in Rochester, Minnesota at 2117 Campus Drive SE.