Family Support & Assistance
Government Center Office

151 4^th Street SE, 3^rd Floor

Rochester, MN 55904

Phone:  507 328-6500

Economic & Energy Assistance Fax:  507 328-7956

In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Olmsted County Financial Assistance Office works to help people with low incomes transition to economic stability.  Economic support includes cash assistance programs, food support, child care assistance, child support services, refugee services, employment services, and health care programs.

The General Assistance (GA) program provides cash assistance for single, adults without children, including people who are elderly, ill, injured or otherwise incapacitated.  For more information about GA.  

Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) is a state-funded supplement for people who receive Social Security Income (SSI) benefits.  For more information about MSA.

     Refugee Assistance helps refugees in making the transition to life in the United States.  Services include resettlement and placement, cash and medical assistance, and employment and social services. 

The Refugee Assistance Program provides federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement to the states for refugee assistance.

Refugees are people who have had to flee their country of origin and are unable to return because of a well-founded fear of persecution.  Most refugees resettled over the last two decades have been Southeast Asians, but more recently the population has become more diverse with people from countries in strife such as Bosnia, Somalia, Sudan, Liberia, Iraq and the former Soviet Union.  For more information about Refugee Assistance.  

     The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) is Minnesota's welfare reform program for low-income families with children.  It includes both cash and food assistance.  The purpose of MFIP is to help families transition to economic stability.  MFIP parents are expected to work and are supported in working.  Most families can get cash assistance for only 60 months.  In July 2004, Minnesota started a Diversionary Work Program (DWP).  This is a short-term, intensive work program to help families move immediately to work rather than go on welfare.  For more information about MFIP and DWP.