1 FFY2015 EAP Annual Training August 12 & 13, 2014 St. Cloud OEO: Programs, Structure, and Connections with your work

Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) Programs, Structure, and Connections with your work Presented at the 2014 Annual EAP Training Conference August 14, 2014 Jessica 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 Overview OEO’s work and partnerships How EAP programs connect with OEO’s work. Questions?

Department 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 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 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 Action Statewide network of 27 Community Action Agencies and 11 Tribal governments. Serves all 87 counties. Grantees received $11.13 million in Partnership driven approach to fighting poverty and its effects on communities: Tripartite board Community Assessment

Community Action 2014 Selected Outcomes 3,568 Individuals obtained a job. 765 people completed ABE/GED and received a certificate of diploma. 1,623 households received weatherization assistance.

Homeless & 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 & 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 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 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–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 Projects Nutritious Food Coalition A 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 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 Households Promote 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 Energy Assistance Program OEO’s programming Assurance 16 Connection between energy savings and household financial fitness

Financial Capability FAIM 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 Capability FAIM 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 Capability Resources for providers HelpMNSave – website, e-newsletter Four Cornerstones trainings – train the trainer Curriculum topics: Budgeting to create savings Debt reduction and asset building Building a good credit rating Consumer protection and financial institutions.

Financial Literacy and Energy Savings 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 CAP of Ramsey and Washington County CAP of Suburban Hennepin County

Energy Assistance Crisis Stability Self Sufficiency Thriving

Resources Handouts

Contact information Joelle Hoeft (651) Jessica Rochester mn.us (651) Pam Johnson (651) Karen Moe (651)