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From Ward 5 Minneapolis City Council Member, Jeremiah Ellison.
April is recognized globally as Sexual Violence Awareness Month, a crucial time to shed light on the issue of sexual violence and the vital need to support survivors. This month serves as a platform to amplify the voices of those who have experienced such trauma, fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and empowerment.
By advocating for survivors and elevating their stories, we strive to create a society that not only condemns sexual violence, but also provides comprehensive support systems for those affected. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please consider contacting these resources:
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
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Hennepin Assault Response Team (HART): support for victims and survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence. Contact (612) 873-5832 for assistance.
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Sexual Violence Center: free and confidential resource serving Carver, Hennepin, and Scott Counties. Contact the 24/7 crisis line at (612) 871-5111.
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Ramsey County Sexual Offense Services (SOS): free and confidential services for victims of sexual violence, their partners, families, friends and other concerned persons. Contact the 24/7 crisis line at (651) 266-1000.
Join me from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM every Monday for Open Coffee Hours! These are informal and a chance for me to hear directly from you while we share coffee or a meal (virtually).
Office hours is on a first come first served basis. Please try not to call in past 12:50 p.m. as we want to leave enough time to chat about what you'd like to discuss.
Please RSVP here and my staff will follow-up with the call-in details. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to Dieu Do, Policy Associate, at dieu.do@minneapolismn.gov.
The Providing Resources and Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs (PROMISE) Grant and Loan Programs are new, state-funded programs that will provide grants and loans to disadvantaged small businesses located in certain areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) will administer the MN PROMISE Grant program and the Metropolitan Economic Development Association will administer the MN PROMISE Loan program, alongside community partner organizations.
To learn more about this opportunity, click here.
Want to check your eligibility? Click here to fill out a pre-application to see if you meet the program requirements.
If your small business is looking to reduce on-site air emissions, clean up contamination, or generate less waste be sure to apply for the MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) Small Business Environmental Loan program. The program offers zero-interest loans up to $75,000 to tackle these high-impact projects. You can learn more and apply here.
A State of Minnesota tax credit of up to $1,750 per child is estimated to cut child poverty by up to one third in Minnesota. Nearly 300,000 households, including 513,000 children, are estimated to qualify for the credit.
Minnesotans can now claim the child tax credit of $1,750 per qualifying child, with no limit on the number of children claimed. You must file a 2023 individual income tax return to claim the credit.
Learn more about income requirements and qualifications on the child tax credit webpage.
Free tax preparation
Most taxpayers who are eligible to claim the new child tax credit are also eligible for free tax preparation assistance. Over 170 sites offering free tax preparation assistance are now open to help those filing income tax and property tax refund returns. Sites are staffed by certified volunteers and offer in-person and virtual options with most being open through April 15.
Find free tax preparation sites on the governor’s website.
If you own a home in Minneapolis, you can now apply for funding to help make it more energy efficient.
Owners of homes from one to four units can apply for 0% loans (which means you don’t have to pay interest) and up to $14,000 in grants for certain home improvement projects that save energy. You can combine these City funds with utility rebates and other grants.
About the program
The Green Cost Share program is a funding program helping reduce the cost of rooftop solar and energy efficiency projects in Minneapolis.
- Eligible projects include:
- High-efficiency heating and cooling systems.
- Insulation and air sealing.
- Energy Star windows.
- Heat pump electric water heaters.
- Solar.
Who can apply?
This new offering is open to property owners of one-four unit homes. This includes townhomes, twin homes, condominiums, and properties held in a trust.
- Minneapolis properties.
- The property must have an energy audit in the last three years.
- The grant amount varies by income level and location in Minneapolis.
Apply for the home energy efficiency grants on the Center for Energy and Environment website.
Are you experiencing struggles with food insecurity, housing, career readiness, and legal matters? Are you in need of help? Please look below to see which resources can be beneficial to you.
Career Readiness
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Project for Pride in Living (PPL)
- PPL builds the hope, assets, and self-reliance of individuals and families who have lower incomes by providing transformative affordable housing and career readiness services.
Family Support & Educational Programming
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Way to Grow
- Way to Grow is a nonprofit organization on the Northside that provides free, year-round family support and educational programming for families in Minneapolis and in surrounding suburbs.
Food Insecurity
Free/Discounted Internet
Housing/Tenant Protections
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Home Line
- This organization provides free and low-cost legal, organizing, education, and advocacy services so that tenants throughout Minnesota can solve their own rental housing problems.
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United Renters for Justice/Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia
- United Renters for Justice/Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia is a base-building nonprofit working to transform the Minneapolis housing system.
Legal Representation
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Attorney General Keith Ellison's Office
- The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office appreciates hearing from members of the public. In many cases, they are able to provide direct assistance to people. Hearing from members of the public also alerts us to problems occurring in the marketplace.
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Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
- This organization provides free legal aid to people with low-income, disabilities, and seniors in 20 Central Minnesota counties. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Debt collection and unfair loans
- Disability-related cases
- Divorce and child custody
- Domestic violence
- Elder abuse
- Housing discrimination and evictions
- Immigration and citizenship
- IRS Tax Issues
Need to report an issue? Can't find the right information? Minneapolis 311 can help. 311 coordinates with City departments and service providers to report your concerns, find you information and connect you with nonemergency City services. For example, if you report an abandoned vehicle, pothole, or long grass/weeds, 311 connects with the experts in the right department to get to the bottom of it.
There are many ways to get in contact with 311 for non-emergency City information. Choose what's easiest for you.
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Call 311. Agents are here to answer your call 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 311 from within city limits or 612-673-3000.
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Email 311. You can email 311 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Agents will respond 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Text 311. You can text 311 a short question any time. Just text two or three keywords to 311TXT (311898) to receive an answer from the Minneapolis 311 information database on your mobile phone.
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Get the 311 mobile app. Report neighborhood issues on the 311 mobile app 24 hours a day.
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TTY. 311 agents use computer-based technology so hearing-impaired callers can easily communicate with the City using TDD/TTY devices. Call TTY 612-263-6850.
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Use the contact form. You can send 311 your comments or questions on the website contact form.
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