General assistance

2-1-1 United Way First Call For Help: Call 651-291-0211 or 2-1-1.

Unite MN/A Better Society: This online platform connects people with community-based resources. The network provides a central point of contact where health care providers, social service organizations, and individuals security access and refer people to needed services. To get help in Carver County, visit: https://www.abettersociety.org/get-help/

Love, Inc.: The network churches of Love INC responds to individual’s unmet needs by compassionately gifting people with daily essentials. To view a list of available resources, visit: https://loveinccc.org/ministries. To receive assistance, call: 952.488.2508 or email info@loveinccc.org

Emergency assistance

Carver County Emergency Assistance Program: Emergency Assistance is help for qualifying people that are faced with an unexpected emergency expense. Emergency situations include: preventing foreclosure, preventing eviction, moving expenses, utility disconnections and home repairs.  Emergency Assistance is available to pregnant women and families with children under age 18 (or underage 19 if they meet the definition of minor child under MFIP criteria) who are in an emergency situation and meet the other eligibility criteria  defined by the Carver County Emergency Assistance Policy. Carver County has limited state funds that are set aside annually for emergency situations. Once these funds are exhausted, the County is unable to provide Emergency Assistance until new funding is received.  Families can receive Emergency Assistance once every 12 months.

Carver County Emergency General Assistance Program: Emergency General Assistance is emergency help for adults that can provide short-term financial support for qualifying people that are facing an unexpected emergency. Emergency situations include: preventing foreclosure, preventing eviction, moving expenses, utility disconnections and home repairs.  EGA can only be issued to a household once every 12 months.

Apply online at mnbenefits.mn.gov or call 952.361.1600
Health & Human Services | Government Center Human Services Building | 602 E 4th Street, Chaska, MN 55318

For a complete list of Health & Human Services visit: https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/health-human-services

Energy assistance

Community Action Partnership (CAP): CAP Agency’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) helps eligible households with energy bill payment assistance, home energy crisis intervention, outreach, energy advocacy, information about utility consumer rights and referrals. Call 651.322.3500 (option 1) for questions about eligibility or to receive an application. For additional information, visit: https://capagency.org/housing-services/energy-assistance/

Financial counseling

Lutheran Social Services (LSS): LSS provides free budget counseling, debt management plans and financial education. Give them a call at 888-577-2227.

Housing

His House | Coordinated Entry Homeless Assessment: If you are experiencing homelessness you may be eligible for a housing assessment. This assessment determines if you are eligible to be added to the Suburban Metro Area Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry Priority List. Many of the local programs that offer housing for households experiencing homelessness, both families & single adults, take their referrals directly from this list. To find out if you are eligible to receive an assessment, contact His House: 612.325.4693 or hishousenonprofit@gmail.com.

His House | Homeless Outreach Services: His House Foundation serves as a homeless outreach provider for Carver County.  They can provide information on how to access housing services and help walk people through the process of seeking assistance.  Call 612-325-4693 or visit their website at His House Foundation

Housing Unit Helpline: Call 952.442.4496 to speak with a member of the Carver County Housing Unit for help connecting to housing resources in the community.

Deposit Assistance: If you are homeless but found a housing option and are in need of deposit or rental assistance, you may apply for the FHPAP Program (Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance) or Emergency Assistance. To apply for FHPAP, call United Way by dialing 2-1-1.  Enter your language preference, zip code, and then select the option that lists Carver County or wait on the line to be connected. This line is available 24/7. Or, call Carver County Financial Assistance at 962-361-1600. 

Housing Stabilization Services: is a new program authorized by the Department of Human Services that pays for Housing Case Management Services by billing Medical Assistance.  Eligible participants are age 18 and older, have a disabling condition or are over 65 years old, have medical assistance, and are experiencing housing instability. In Carver County, this service is being provided by the following agencies:

Carver County Housing Unit – 952-442-4496

His House Foundation – 612-325-4693

Launch Ministry – 952-236-7141

Dexterity International – 612-695-8846

Fitzgerald Home Health Care – 612-598-3527

Emergency hotlines

Southern Valley Alliance: Escape Abuse. Southern Valley Alliance’s highly trained expert advocates are available 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone in Minnesota’s Carver and Scott Counties who is experiencing domestic violence, seeking information or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. Call 952.873,4214 or email officemanager@svamn.org. For more information, visit: https://svamn.org/

Mental Health Crisis Team: 24/7 Mobile and telephone crisis response services in Carver County. Call: 952.442.7601 for all services. Both adult and children’s crisis response services are provided.

Crisis Nursery: Crisis Nursery is here to support families 24/7. If you need someone to talk to, are looking for resources or are in need of care for your children please contact us at 651-322-3485. Our ability to provide childcare is based on our providers having openings in their programs and may be limited during this time, but we will do our best! We know that caring for a child is difficult on a good day and these are stressful times!

Transportation

SW Transit: Providing public transit service for Chanhassen, Chaska, and Eden Prairie. Express bus service to Minneapolis, and the University of Minnesota. Call: 952.949.2BUS(2287)

Veterinary services

Mission Animal Hospital: Mission provides high-quality veterinary services to those in our community who encounter transportation and financial barriers to care. Call 952-938-1237.

Find Food Carver County

There are many resources for people to get access to healthy foods in Carver County, even if you have financial limitations. For a complete list of organizations that offer food assistance, go to www.findfoodcarvercounty.org and/or check out the resources linked below.

Free community meals

Many local congregations provide free community meals on a weekly or monthly basis. No registration required. All are welcome.

St. John’s Catholic Church and School
300 E 4th Street | Chaska, MN 55318
Every Monday from 5:15 – 6:15 pm
Meals are served

Waconia Moravian Church
200 E 2nd Street | Waconia, MN 55387
Last Wednesday of the month

Delivered Meals

Humanity Alliance: A weekend meal delivery program. Program currently has a waiting list. To get on the waiting list, fill out a form here: https://www.humanityalliance.org/order-weekend-meals#!form/MealOrderForm2

Meals on Wheels: CAP Agency Senior Nutrition ensures that eligible individuals age 60+ have access to healthy meals. Meals delivered directly to seniors in their homes. Any adult over the age of 60 is eligible for senior nutrition, regardless of income. A donation of $5 per meal is suggested, but not required. No senior is denied meal service. Call: 952.402.9855 to sign up.

Low Cost Groceries

Fare for All: a low-cost pop-up monthly food package service and a great way to save money on quality, nutritious food. Fare For All buys fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and frozen meat in bulk to save you up to 40% off grocery store prices. Fare For All is community supported and open to everyone. Fare For All accepts cash, credit, debit, and EBT cards.

Carver County Location:
Crown of Glory Lutheran Church
1141 Cardinal Street
Chaska, MN 55318

Dates: Fare for All is typically offered in Chaska on the last Thursday of the month. Check the Fare for All website for upcoming dates.

Ruby’s Pantry: Located at Grace Church | 9301 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347 on the first Thursday of each month. Registration begins at 5:00 PM. Food bundles available 5:00-6:30 pm

Food Distributions

The Chaska Free Food Distribution is typically held the third Thursday of the month at 2100 Stoughton Ave, Chaska from 12-1 pm. This event is open to anyone, is drive-thru and contact-free, and people can pick up for multiple households. The food offered includes a variety of dairy products, meat, produce, bread, and dry goods. No pre-registration is needed.

Government Programs 

Women, Infants and Children (WIC): WIC is a food and nutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to five years old. Call 612-348-6100

County Food Support (SNAP): The SNAP (food support) program is a county-run, federal program that helps low-income Minnesotans get the food they need for sound nutrition and well-balanced meals. The program issues electronic SNAP benefits that can help stretch your food budget. It is not intended to meet all of your food budget needs. The amount of SNAP benefits your household can get is based on the income, expenses and the number of people in your household. For more information: https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-2814-ENG

Carver County Food Shelves

Food shelves provide food and basic needs to individuals and families living on little. Please call the food shelf to check eligibility requirements and hours.

Bountiful Basket Food Shelf – Chaska
1600 Bavaria Road, Chaska
952.556.0244

Bountiful Basket Food Shelf – Cologne
300 E Church Street, Cologne
952.988.2802

Watertown Food Shelf
309 Lewis Avenue South, Watertown
952.955.1980

Gather and Grow Food Shelf and Resource Center
11 South Elm Street, Waconia
952.448.3878

People Reaching Out to People (PROP)
14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie
952.937.9120

Southwest Carver County Food Shelf
10 First Avenue NE, Norwood Young America
952.467.1870

This list of resources is a work in progress. If you know of a beneficial resource that is not listed, please contact patti@bountifulbasketfoodshelf.org. Thank you for you support!