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If you need help with paying bills, rent, counseling, or access to programs to become self-sufficient over the long term, turn to Semcac, which is the local Rochester and Olmsted County Minnesota community action agency. Dial (507) 864-7741.
One of the programs they run is known as Outreach Services. Both emergency and crisis assistance is available at some county offices as well as contact centers throughout the county only as funding permits. This assistance for bills and expenses may provide help with motel vouchers, heating bills, food emergencies, transportation assistance, or other emergency needs that help sustain or create improved self-reliance of an individual or family. In addition, clients of the community action agency who are receiving crisis assistance or funds may also work with staff to establish a plan for stability over the long term.
Another service offered is a Dollars & Sense Class credit repair, budgeting, and debt assistance program. The service is a free, three-hour class that is based on the Four Cornerstones of Financial Literacy curriculum and covers credit repair, budgets, debt assistance, savings and spending, credit reports, debt reduction, credit card help, and identity theft assistance.
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Families get access to nutritious foods, groceries, and other aid. While they do need to apply, this is a great option for those people whop are concerned with providing for their family.
Two options included are Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program as well as the federal government funded Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-housing Program.
The first option/program is designed to decrease homelessness and help keep people in their homes or apartments by providing one-time financial assistance with a rent or mortgage payment. the program is focused on those households or tenants that need a short-term “bridge” until their financial situation is expected to stabilize.
The Homeless Prevention program will be targeted towards those families and individuals who have been impacted by the nations current economic crisis and who may be struggling to obtain or maintain housing due to unemployment or underemployment. This is even more important as the result of the weak job market. Funds and rental assistance through this new program is an income-based subsidy, meaning that the qualifying household must pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross income towards their rent expense. The Semcac community action agency will commit to no more than three months of rental subsidy upon the initial consultation with Semcac's Outreach Services staff member. Funds are also available to pay heating and utility bills.
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Two options here include the weatherization program as well as the Energy Assistance Program.
The energy program is a program that provides grants and cash. The energy program provides financial assistance to help with a household’s winter heating and electric bills. Financial assistance and cash grant payments are made directly to the household’s utility company, and not to the applicant themselves. The Reach Out for Warmth program is also available for households whose income is slightly above the standard Energy Assistance Program guidelines.
The weatherization assistance program is a federally government funded program, with support from Olmsted County and the state of Minnesota, that provides energy conservation home improvements to reduce energy consumption costs as well as heating and utility bills. Each home that enrolls in the weatherization program is inspected before and after work is done in order to ensure that homes are more energy efficient upon project completion, and ensure that people due in fact save money.
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