Budgeting and finance
Help Minnesota Save
Help Minnesota Save provides information for direct service staff to help clients make informed judgments and effective decisions about money management. Topics covered include budgeting, building good credit, financial scams, predatory lending, identity theft and tax preparation. You can print tip sheets to give to clients. Visit Help Minnesota Save.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides resources to help consumers make informed financial decisions. Visit Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Corrections, crime and justice
Ex-Offender Job Readiness, created by Americorps members from the Community Technology Empowerment Project.
Jobs for Felons Hub
Step Ahead — Career planning for people with criminal convictions
County inmate rosters
Adult corrections facility inmate roster and the county sheriff jail roster allows you to search by name. The information is public according to state law (Minnesota Statute 641.05). Search rosters.
Accessibility Incorporated
Accessibility Incorporated's Career and Educational Pathways program provides jobs and training for people with criminal backgrounds making the transition from jail to the community. Find information and referral forms.
DHS criminal expungements information
The Minnesota Department of Human Services' Basics on Criminal Expungements provides information on how to seal criminal records. Expungement information (PDF).
Office of Justice Programs (Minnesota)
The Office of Justice Programs provides information on how to help crime victims. Information includes victim rights, victim advocates and financial assistance. Visit the program.
Fresh Start program
Resource's Fresh Start program provides comprehensive education and employment services for young adult ex-offenders. Fresh Start brochure (PDF)
Early intervention and youth resources
Education and training
IT training- Minneapolis TechHire Initiative
The Minneapolis region, the City of Minneapolis, three high-quality accelerated learning programs: PRIME Digital Academy, IT Futures Foundation – IT Ready, and Concordia University – Software Guild, and 60 regional employers have come together with the purpose of training and placing nontraditional, diverse IT workers into software engineering and support roles. Numerous education and training opportunities including free training are available at Minneapolis TechHire Initiative.
Virtual Career Network
Virtual Career Network offers information on career options, free online classes, opportunities to locate training and education programs, and to find job openings in healthcare, green economy and transit. Find openings.
Minneapolis Public Schools adult education
Minneapolis Public Schools adult education offers classes in English Language, GED preparation, computer classes, math, science, social studies, FastTRAC, Career Pathways, citizenship classes, Child Development Associate (CDA) and employment skills preparation. Minneapolis Education 2015-2016 program brochure (PDF)
Culinary
People Serving People: free 13-week culinary training program course offered every three months. For more information. Program flyer (PDF)
Construction for native youth
Little Earth YouthBuild Program: paid construction training for 18-24 year old members of the Native community. The program provides training, learning carpentry skills and job placement assistance. Program flyer (PDF)
Short-term training
Eastside Neighborhood Services vocational training: personal and home care aide, forklift operator, ServSafe food safety manager and leadership management. NEW: Spanish ServSafe food safety manager. Visit vocational training program for Eastside Neighborhood Services.
Emerge FastTrac: information technology essentials, machining training, janitorial training, property maintenance technician, welding, certified nursing assistant, commercial driver's license (CDL) Learn more about Emerge training programs.
Goodwill Easter Seals training programs: banking and finance, medical office, customer service/call center, construction, automotive service technician, and retail. Program brochure (PDF)
Summit Academy: 20-week accredited courses in the construction and health care, financial aid available for qualified students, job placement assistance for graduates. Visit Summit Academy.
Takoda Institute of Higher Learning (A division of AIOIC): business, health care and computer information. Financial aid is available to qualified students, however, some programs are free. Visit Takoda Institute of Higher Learning.
International Institute of Minnesota tuition-free training programs for new Americans:
RESOURCE
RESOURCE offers eight industry-specific, training programs at their Twin Cities’ locations. Find program and start dates online.
Energy assistance
The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule
The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule (CWR) is in effect from October 15 to April 15. People who need help paying heating bills must contact their natural gas or electric utility company to make and keep a payment plan to receive CWR protection. Read more about requirements and contacts.
Community Action of Suburban Hennepin County
Community Action of Suburban Hennepin County works with homeowners and renters with low incomes to help them pay energy costs, such as a heating bill, furnace repair or weatherization, between October 1 and May 30 each year. Visit Community Action of Suburban Hennepin County.
Food and nutrition
The Food Group (formerly Emergency Food Shelf Network)
The Food Group offers food, employment services, information and referral, shelter and transportation resources. Visit The Food Group.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) helps eligible pregnancy women, new mothers, babies and young children eat well, learn about nutrition and stay healthy. Visit WIC.
Fare For All
Fare For All sells food packages including fresh fruits, vegetables and frozen meat, for $10-$25 (up to 40% off grocery store prices). Visit Fare For All.
Health, dental, and mental health
Homelessness/housing
St. Stephens
St. Stephens provides a resource guide for poor and homeless people including information about essentials (clothes, food shelves, free meals, etc.), public assistance, health care, education, employment, and immigrant services and legal services. Handbook of the Streets (PDF)
Hennepin County
Hennepin County's report on homelessness includes county-provided services such as grants, transitional housing programs and youth services. Homelessness in Minnesota data and services (PDF)
Housinglink.org
Housinglink is a free resource to help renters find affordable choose housing in locations with access to good schools, employment, transportation, and community resources.
Social security and disability
Disability Benefits 101
Disability Benefits 101 offers tools and information on health coverage, benefits and employment. Visit Disability Benefits 101.
Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration provides online tools for learning about disability, retirement, replacement cards, name change process, and survivor benefits. Visit Social Security Administration online.
Veterans
Veterans Administration and Department of Defense
The Veterans Administration and Department of Defense help veterans get civilian employment after active duty. Visit veterans employment center for job seekers.