Financial

2-1-1 call centers are staffed 24/7 by trained Community Resource Specialists who quickly assess needs and refer callers to the help that they seek. Services are free and confidential. They offer information on a broad range of services, including:

• Food support
• Housing and utility support
• Caregiver resources
• Mental health and substance abuse resources
• Paying medical expenses

• 2-1-1
• 800-543-7709

• https://www.211unitedway.org/

Serves Two Harbors and Silver Bay. Free, confidential tax preparation for low income and elderly individuals.

• 218-595-0267 (Two Harbors)
• 218-226-3635 (Silver Bay)

Housing Resources

• Homeless Services-Homeless services are designed to keep community members housed, either through prevention resources or rapid rehousing. This includes assistance in finding housing and other support services, as well as direct assistance with rent, security deposits, and other assistance targeted for families, single adults, and youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Contact 218-623-3033 or 218-410-5713 or amy.renne@aeoa.org for assistance.

 Other Services Available in Virginia, MN

• First time homebuyers resources
• Emergency and transitional housing, homeless youth housing, and permanent, supportive housing
• Housing Support Services for Adults with Serious Mental Illness
• Energy Assistance
• Weatherization Assistance
• MNSure Navigation

Please call  Housing Crisis Resources at 218-748-7357  or 1-800-662-5711 ext. 7357 for these services.

• 218-623-3033

• http://www.aeoa.org/

• Norlen Industrial Park
  2124 10th Street
  Two Harbors, MN 55616
  

• Amy.Renne@aeoa.org

• Education-Offers classes, integrated coaching, saving with the FAIM program, and other educational opportunities.
• Financial Opportunity Center-Integrated coaching program to help individuals build credit and assets, reduce debt, create a budget, increase savings and purchase a house. Participants will also learn computer skills, take classes to obtain their GED or Certified Nursing Assistant certificate, and may take part in FAIM (assistance to pay for your education).
• Health and Food-Sign up for SNAP and MNSure benefits, and learn more about the mobile market, farmer’s markets and Deep Winter Greenhouse.
• Job Training & Transitional Employment-Learn more about higher education options, research career paths and apply for jobs, pay off student loans, and take part in the FAIM program to help pay off your education, a vehicle or other asset.
• Free Tax Site-IRS-certified volunteers prepare and file your taxes for free.
• Transportation-We can help you get around by bike, save for a car, and obtain a driver’s license.

• 218-726-1665

• http://www.communityactionduluth.org/

• Suite 102
  2424 W 5th Street
  Duluth, MN 55806
  

• Health Care-Medical Assistance, Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities, Long Term Care, TEFRA, Medicare Savings Program.
• Mental Health Services-Case Management services for children and adults.
• Cash Assistance-Minnesota Family Investment Program, Diversionary Work Program, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, General Assistance, Housing Supports (formerly known as Group Residential Housing). Apply for Cash Assistance benefits at https://mnbenefits.mn.gov/
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as food stamps and/or food support)-Apply for SNAP benefits at https://mnbenefits.mn.gov/
• Emergency Programs-Emergency Assistance and Emergency General Assistance. Apply for Emergency Assistance benefits at https://mnbenefits.mn.gov/
• Car Seat Installations-A certified car seat technician is available to assist you.
• Child and Teen Check-up-Program for children on Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care. Information is available about good physical health, development and growth, hearing and vision checks and immunizations. Complete physical exams are also available at your local clinic.
• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)-May be available to families who are employed, seeking employment, or are in school or training. Apply for CCAP benefits by calling our office, picking up an application or going on-line at https://applymn.dhs.mn.gov.
• Child Protection-Workers receive reports of possible physical, emotional or sexual abuse and/or neglect and take appropriate action to provide safety for the children.
• Child Foster Care Services-A licensed, home-like setting for children who are unable to live with their families and need placement on emergency, temporary, long-term or respite basis.
• Children and Family Services-Voluntary services to help families stay together; provides ongoing case management with individualized plans and assistance for your family’s needs.
• Family Based Services-Provides parent education and counseling in the family home as an alternative to an out-of-home placement or preparing for a child to return home.
• Follow Along Program-Babies and children grow and learn at their own rate. Some children need special help to grow up healthy and learn skills such as sitting, walking, or talking. This program is to help determine if this is true for your child.
• Newborn Home Visits-Visits to a home or in the office by a public health nurse specializing in parent and child health. A visit will include weighing your baby, assessing your baby from head to toe, and providing information on sleep habits, feeding your baby, infant cues, playing with your baby, general baby care. The nurse will also answer any of your questions and direct you to community resources if necessary. If you would like to meet before your baby is born, the nurse will talk to you about making sure you are doing all you can to have a healthy baby. This is a free and confidential service to all Lake County families.
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC)-Provides supplemental food and nutrition education to eligible pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under age 5.
• Child Support-Assistance in locating parents, establishing parentage, establishing court orders for child support, medical support, and child care support, reviewing and modifying court orders for child support, medical support and child care support, adjusting court orders based on cost-of-living, enforcing court orders, collecting and processing payments. MN Child Support Online: http://www.childsupport.dhs.state.mn.us/Action/Welcome

• 218-834-8400 (Two Harbors office)
• 218-226-4443 (Silver Bay office)
• 800-450-8832

• http://www.co.lake.mn.us/index.php

• Two Harbors office:
  616 3rd Avenue
  Two Harbors, MN 55616
  
• Silver Bay office:
  Silver Bay Service Center
  99 Edison Blvd.
  Silver Bay, MN 55614

Housing

• Bethany Crisis Shelter-Offers short-term, emergency housing for youth 17 years and younger with a referral by county social worker, court, or law enforcement. Provides supervised daily living, homebound education, recreational programming, weekly discussion groups, transportation and individual support.
• Another Door Emergency Housing Program-Short-term housing and support for young adults age 18-24 experiencing homelessness. Contact 218-391-5145 for more information.
• Renaissance Transitional Housing-Transitional housing for youth 16-21 years old that are experiencing homelessness. While there, youth will develop skills to live independently.
• Supportive Apartments-Offers long-term housing paired with supportive services for youth ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness and meet MN guidelines for homelessness.
• Center for Changing Lives-Located at 1422 East Superior Street, Duluth. Phone 218-529-2230. Offers many options to youth with regards to homelessness and wellness services, including life skills training, educational support, youth groups and more.

Health Care 

• Teen Health Clinic-Offers free wellness services including health screenings for teens and young adults who are 13-24 years old. Located at The Center for Changing Lives Duluth, 1422 East Superior Street, Duluth. Call 218-529-2224 for an appointment.

Education

• Oh No Eighteen! (ONE) Independent Living Skills-Independent living skills program that includes education, support, and case management for young people that have been in foster care, residential treatment, group homes or other residential programs.

Children’s Services

• Supervised Visits-Conducts supervised visits for families referred by counties and courts, as well as providing fee-based supervised visits for families who seek them independently. Phone 218-391-9561 for more information.
• Bethany Crisis Nursery-Providing a safe and nurturing environment for children birth through age 12.
• Teen Closet-Offers free new and gently used clothing for youth ages 13-21. Teen closet is open Thursdays from 2pm-6pm. Located on the lower level of the First Lutheran Church, 1100 E Superior Street, Duluth. Please use London Road entrance.

Groups

• Together for Youth-A community outreach and support group for LGBTQ youth ages 14 to 20. Meets Wednesdays from 4pm-6pm at the Center for Changing Lives, 1422 E Superior Street, Duluth.

Financial

• Working with families and individuals to solve debt and financial problems. Assists in setting up a realistic budget and payment plan to fit individual needs. Please call 888-577-2227 for more information.

• 218-626-2726
• 888-577-2227 (financial line)

• https://www.lssmn.org/services/youth-homelessness/duluth

A web-based means of finding information about education, services for people with disabilities, senior services, waiver services, unemployment, housing/homelessness, health care, transportation, jobs and money management.

• 800-333-2433 (Senior Linkage Line)
• 866-333-2466 (Disability Hub MN)

• https://www.minnesotahelp.info/

Resourceful is a free community resource guide to help you find free and reduced cost services near you:

• Food
• Housing
• Goods
• Transit
• Health
• Money
• Care
• Education
• Work
• Legal

• https://www.weareresourceful.org/

Collaborates with area service agencies to provide last resort financial assistance to families and individuals in need. Financial assistance available to individuals/families ONCE every 365 days (one program per 365 days).

• Back to School Program-Backpack and basic school supplies for families that are unable to purchase them.  Applications located at AEOA-Two Harbors and Lake County Health and Human Services.  Applications available in late July/early August.
• Christmas Toy Distribution-Applications available mid-October through mid-November at AEOA – Two Harbors and Lake County Health and Human Services.

Single Family Housing programs give families and individuals the opportunity to buy, build, or repair affordable homes. Eligibility for these loans, loan guarantees, and grants is based on income and varies according to the average median income for each area.

Through the program options below, USDA Rural Development offers qualifying individuals and families the opportunity to purchase or build a new single family home with no money down, to repair their existing home, or to refinance their current mortgage under certain qualifying circumstances. There are also programs to assist non-profit entities in their efforts to provide new homes or home repair to qualifying individuals and families.

For Home Buyers

• Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans-Also known as the Section 502 Direct Loan Program, this program assists low and very low-income applicants obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing by providing payment assistance to increase an applicant’s repayment ability. Payment assistance is a type of subsidy that reduces the mortgage payment for a short time. The amount of assistance is determined by the adjusted family income.
• Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program-The Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program assists approved lenders in providing low and moderate-income households the opportunity to own adequate, modest, decent, safe and sanitary dwellings as their primary residence. Eligible applicants may purchase, build, rehabilitate, improve or relocate a dwelling in an eligible rural area with 100% financing. The program provides a 90% loan note guarantee to approved lenders in order to reduce the risk of extending 100% loans to eligible rural homebuyers – so no money down for those who qualify!

For Homeowners

• Home Repair Loans and Grants-Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, provides loans to very low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.

• 651-602-7800

• https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs

• 375 Jackson Street
  Suite 410
  St. Paul, MN 55101-1853