At Neighborhood House, Family Centers are a one stop shop for services and referrals. Families work one-on-one with a coach to identify what their current needs are. From there, coaches will connect families to resources within and outside of the organization. There are a total of five locations that families could visit depending on where they live.
**Appointments are usually done in person. However, due to COVID and for the safety of participant/staff, all services will be conducted virtually via phone call or video call. Special arrangements can be made. **
Basic Needs/Food Support
Need food? Each of the Family Centers have food pantries that you could get access to. If you are looking for long-term food assistance, talk to a coach and they will connect you with additional resources such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Bridging
Bridging is an agency that provides a “basic home set up” to those in need. The agency’s goal is to create a comfortable and functioning home. Bridging appointments can provide participants with gently-used upholstered furniture, a kitchen table and chairs, a mattress and box spring, linens, dishes, artwork, and more. Family Center staff can create a referral for you to have an appointment with bridging. (Appointments cost $65, and delivery costs $185). Call a Family Coach to get a referral for furniture!
MNsure (Health Coverage)
Need health insurance? MNsure is Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs. All our coaches are certified navigators who are ready to assist you with getting health insurance!
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR)
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is a national program designed to increase access to the disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for eligible adults and children. If you or anyone you know are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder, our coaches could assist you with applying for disability benefits.
Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP)
PSOP is a voluntary service program in collaboration with Ramsey County. It connects parents with extra resources to provide safety and security for their children. Families can be referred to our centers through Ramsey County or self-referred, however, they must meet program eligibility. If you or someone you know are interested in PSOP, talk to a coach to see if you are eligible!
Cultural Events
At Neighborhood House, we serve families from diverse cultures and backgrounds. To honor and appreciate our families, we also host cultural event such as Cinco De Mayo and the Hmong New Year.
Resource Connections
Sometimes, we will offer life skills courses such as parenting or employment searches. Family coaches can also assist in applying for Energy Assistance and can provide resources to assist with housing search. If any of the services/programs that we provide do not fit your needs, our coaches can connect you with other resources within the community.
About our Family Coaches
Julie Her (She/Her/Hers) // English, Hmong
Family Center Location: Neighborhood House – Wellstone Center
Julie has a bachelor’s degree in Family Social Science and experience working with the Hmong population. She strives to be the bridge that connects families to resources within their community, despite their education/language barriers.
Sa Eh Paw (She/Her/Hers) // English, Karen, Burmese
Family Center Location: Saint Paul Music Academy (SPMA)
Sa Eh has a bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies, taught English abroad in Myanmar and works on meeting participant’s needs, specializing in cultural connections with the Karen community.
Rosalind Loggin (She/ Her/ Hers) // English
Family Center Location: Neighborhood House – Wellstone Center
Rosalind has a degree in Criminal Justice, paired with extensive experience working with youth as she ran her own childcare center, and works with at risk youth in a support group setting at Neighborhood House. Rosalind also works with the youth team at Neighborhood House.
Frewoine Gebrehiwot (She/ Her/ Hers) // English, Amharic, Tigrigna
Family Center Location: Sibley Manor Apartment
Frewoine has been working with participants at Neighborhood House for 11 years. She is a great resource in the Highland community and is a great support to the East African community. Frewoine has many connections in the community, and is an expert on signing people up for MNSure.
Contact Family Center Coaches
