By Kaitlyn Szabo • May 24, 2021
Have you ever heard of Community Action Partnership (CAP) or a Community Action Agency (CAA)? Community Action Partnership is a national nonprofit that provides technical assistance, training, and other resources to CAAs, nonprofits, and public groups. In other words, CAP connects local communities and individual citizens to financial resources that meet their needs.
There are CAAs in most American cities and counties, with services that vary slightly, but generally include:
- Child and Family Development Support, including Head Start, child development and educational programs, nutrition education, parenting education, community gardens and canneries, food stamps, and health clinics.
- Youth and Adult Employment and Training, including adult education, GED preparation, on-the-job support, job search assistance, and job placement.
- Housing Assistance, including homeless shelters and drop-in centers, utility deposits, eviction prevention, domestic violence programs and shelters, transitional housing, energy crisis assistance, and emergency food or clothing.
- Senior Citizen Care, including Meals on Wheels, in-home care programs, senior centers, senior daycare, and foster grandparents.
In order to find the CAP nearest you, check out Minnesota Community Action Partnership‘s interactive map.
Additional Financial Resources
Of course, additional financial resources are available through a variety of avenues.
- Bridge to Benefits, a project from the Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota, has a screening tool to help you identify if you’re eligible for public works programs. Use it to see if you’re eligible for WIC, school meal programs, Minnesota health care programs, energy assistance, and more.
- The Minnesota Department of Human Services has made this web application available to help you apply for cash assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, child care assistance, and emergency assistance. If you have questions, then call 651-431-4000.
- RentHelpMN offers emergency rental assistance to those with past due rent or utility bills because of issues related to COVID-19. Applications are currently only open to those with back rent. However, the program will soon expand to eligible renters with past due or upcoming payments.
- The Minnesota Department of Commerce‘s Energy Assistance Program is now accepting applications for help paying energy bills.
For even more organizations offering assistance statewide, read our blog post on financial resources in Minnesota.
Money Management E-Newsletter: May 2021
