Emergency Assistance

Cash and Food Programs 

The following programs help low-income people with Cash or Food support.

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) - This program helps to pay childcare costs for low-income working families. People may be eligible for child care assistance if they are in need of child care services in order to secure employment, retain employment, and they meet the program income guidelines (See the child care plan (PDF)).

Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) - This program is Minnesota's Cash and Food Assistance program for families who need assistance.

Diversionary Work Program (DWP) - When most families first apply for cash assistance, they will participate in the Diversionary Work Program, or DWP. This is a 4 month program that helps parents go immediately to work.

Food Support Program (FS) - This program helps low-income people with their food costs.

General Assistance (GA) - This program serves as Minnesota's primary safety net for single adults and childless couples. The GA Program provides monthly cash grants for persons who cannot provide for themselves and whose income and resources are less than program limits.

Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) - This program is a state funded program that provides a monthly cash supplement to people who are aged, blind or disabled and who receive federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Housing Support (Formerly Group Residential Housing GRH) - This program is a state-funded income supplement program that pays for room-and-board costs for low-income adults who have been placed in a licensed or registered setting with which a county human service agency has negotiated a monthly rate.

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) - This program coordinates services to assist refugees in making the transition to life in the United States. These services include resettlement and placement, cash and medical assistance, and employment and social services.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement (PDF)