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FFY2015 EAP Annual Training August 12 & 13, 2014St. Cloud
OEO: Programs, Structure, and Connections with your work
Office of Economic Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO)Opportunity (OEO)
Programs, Structure, and Connections with your work
Presented at the 2014 Annual EAP Training Conference August 14, 2014Jessica Rochester
“It is…the policy of the United States to eliminate the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty in this Nation by opening to everyone the opportunity for education and training, the opportunity to work and the opportunity to live in decency and dignity.”
- The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
Presentation OverviewPresentation OverviewOEO’s work and partnershipsHow EAP programs connect with
OEO’s work.Questions?
Department OverviewDepartment Overview Located with the MN Department of
Human Services
Oversee funding for grants and programs: Housing/Homeless Programs SNAP Outreach and Nutrition Education TEFAP and Food Shelves Community Action FAIM and Financial Literacy
Community partnerships are vital – MinnCAP, grantees, other state agencies.
Value StatementsValue Statements Mission: To be a
voice for the poor within state government, and a partner with local community agencies to help families and individuals to become more self-sufficient and build strong communities.
Guiding Principles for Partnership: Mutual Respect. Open
Communication. Joint problem-
solving. Empowerment
through diversity.
Community ActionCommunity Action
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) provides funds to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities. CSBG funding supports projects that: Lessen poverty in communities Address the needs of low-income individuals including the
homeless, migrants and the elderly Provide services and activities addressing employment,
education, better use of available income, housing, nutrition, emergency services and/or health
The MN Community Action Grant provides financial assistance for community action agencies to help in alleviating the causes and conditions of poverty in communities
Community ActionCommunity Action Statewide network
of 27 Community Action Agencies and 11 Tribal governments.
Serves all 87 counties.
Grantees received $11.13 million in 2014.
Partnership driven approach to fighting poverty and its effects on communities: Tripartite board Community
Assessment
Community ActionCommunity Action2014 Selected Outcomes3,568 Individuals obtained a job.
765 people completed ABE/GED and received a certificate of diploma.
1,623 households received weatherization assistance.
Homeless & HousingHomeless & Housing Competitive grant process.
OEO partners with agencies that administer homeless programs including: CAA’s across the state, Avenues For Homeless Youth, Lutheran Social Services, etc.
Collaborative work through the MN interagency Council on Homelessness – statewide planning and coordination.
Homeless & HousingHomeless & Housing State of Minnesota
Transitional Housing
Homeless Youth Safe Harbor Emergency
Services
Federal – HUD Emergency
Services Shelter Rehousing
• Distributed $9.63 M in 2014 for prevention, outreach, drop in centers, emergency shelter, Transitional Living and Supportive Services.
TEFAP & Food Shelf TEFAP & Food Shelf Funds used to
purchase food and pay food shelf operating costs.
300 food shelves provide food to 550,000 Minnesotans.
TEFAP commodities provide 10 M pounds of food.
SNAP OutreachSNAP Outreach
Goal: increase participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
500,000 + Minnesotans receive SNAP benefits.
Outreach efforts:Activities are tailored to address
unique community needs.Inform communities about the
value of SNAP.Help people apply for benefits -
specially among the working poor and the elderly.
Dispel SNAP myths.
Partner with 30 nonprofit agencies
SNAP–EdSNAP–Ed Contracts with the
University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
Environmental and policy changes to make it easier to make healthy food choices with SNAP dollars.
Skills to make wise food shopping and cooking choices and eat more fruits, vegetables, low‐fat and fat‐free dairy and whole grains.
84 of 87 Minnesota counties.
Partners with more than 1,200 agencies to serve 63,000+ low‐income Minnesotans of all ages.
Food Access ProjectsFood Access ProjectsNutritious Food CoalitionA network of more than 40 public, private and nonprofit leaders. Common goal: to increase access to nutritious food for those who need it most.
Food Access Summit Annual summit since 2012. Food Access Summit: Expanding Opportunities for Low-Income Minnesotans. A forum for the public health, hunger, and agricultural communities to come together and develop ways to increase food access for low-income Minnesotans.
EBT at Farmers Markets 68 Markets accept EBT.Mailings to SNAP HouseholdsPromote farmers markets accepting EBT.
Market Bucks$5 in EBT gets $5 in Market Bucks – double purchasing power for fresh fruits and veg.Partnership between DHS, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Extension, and markets.43 markets participating.
Financial Capability and the Financial Capability and the Energy Assistance ProgramEnergy Assistance Program
OEO’s programming
Assurance 16 Connection
between energy savings and household financial fitness
Financial CapabilityFinancial CapabilityFAIMFAIM
Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota (FAIM) helps low-income working Minnesotans increase savings, assets, and financial knowledge to achieve greater economic security.
Eligibility:
Household’s income below 200% of the federal poverty level. Accountholder deposits must be from earned income.
Matched Savings -- 3:1 ratio
Financial Coaching
Assets – home ownership, education, capitalize a small business
Financial CapabilityFinancial CapabilityFAIM Impact
Over the last 10 years, FAIM account holders earned and deposited over $2.46 million into local savings accounts.
Over 1,675 assets have been acquired: 28% home purchases, 39% capitalized businesses, and 33% higher education degrees.
Over 2,975 participants completed 12 hours of financial education, increasing the financial fitness of Minnesotans working to leave poverty permanently.
Financial CapabilityFinancial CapabilityResources for providers
HelpMNSave – website, e-newsletterFour Cornerstones trainings – train
the trainerCurriculum topics:
Budgeting to create savingsDebt reduction and asset buildingBuilding a good credit ratingConsumer protection and financial
institutions.
Financial Literacy and Energy Financial Literacy and Energy SavingsSavings
Assurance 16 – Providers can spend funds (no more than 5% of their LIHEAP funds) on services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance, including needs assessment, counseling, and assistance with energy vendors).
Minnesota participates at the full 5% level. Examples:
Budget counseling Energy conservation education Facilitation of household negotiations for budget payments Advocacy with fuel suppliers on behalf of households Household energy assessments Referrals Case management Public relations and outreach
Agency Examples Agency Examples CAP of Ramsey
and Washington County
CAP of Suburban Hennepin County
Energy AssistanceEnergy Assistance
ResourcesResources
Handouts
www.helpmnsave.org
Contact informationContact informationJoelle Hoeft
(651) 431-3813
Jessica Rochester
(651) 431-3819
Pam Johnson
(651) 236-8572
Karen Moe
[email protected](651) 236-8575
