PRAIRIE FIVE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL INC 320-269-6578

7TH STREET AND WASHINGTON AVENUE SUITE 302 1-800-292-5437

PO BOX 159 Debra J. Larson, Executive Director TDD: 320-269-6988

MONTEVIDEO MN 56265-0159

A Community Action Agency serving Region 6W:

Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine Counties

Branch Offices located in: Benson, Canby, Clinton and Madison

Big Stone County:

Outreach Office & Clothing Center -

Contact: Jeanne Krueger 320-325-5227

Clinton Memorial Buildin

PO BOX 5 CLINTON MN 56225-0005

Contact: Laurie Hendrickson 320-269-6578

Clothing Center located at Carey’s Appliance Center-

Black Oak Avenue -Montevideo MN 56265

Outreach Office & Clothing Center - Contact: 320-598-3027

Prairie Five C.A.C.-422 5^TH Avenue-Madison, MN 56256

Outreach Office, Clothing Center & Food Shelf

CONTACT: Erick Hedman 320-842-8565

EAST HIGHWAY 12 PO BOX 321-Benson MN 56215

Outreach Office & Clothing Center - Contact: Donna Stone 507-223-5471

106 North Street Olaf Avenue-Canby, MN 56220

Child Care Resource and Referral- Contact: Marge Knudson 320-269-8727

Child Care Resource & Referral is a community based organization, delivering person-to person services that include comprehensive information, child care referrals, and training growth, as well as supporting parents in their search for quality care by developing resources that are responsive to our community needs. Our primary goal is to ensure that all children have access to quality, nurturing environments. Equipment and book/video lending library is available to all providers. There are also a number of grants available for providers interested in starting a licensed child care program.

The Weatherization Program reduces the impact of rising energy costs through the installation of energy conserving measures. Also, health and safety issues are addressed by checking fuel burning appliances for carbon monoxide emissions and checking indoor air quality.

The Family Development Program strives to assist individuals to become self-supporting. The main emphasis is presently advocacy/listening and referrals.

These are income based deferred grants requiring matching funds from the homeowner for basic necessary housing repair. Funds are distributed on a first come first serve basis and receive matching funds. Contact the housing program to find out where current grants are being administered.

Serving the City of Montevideo with closing costs assistance through a deferred loan program. Also referrals are made to the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership who administers other Affordable Housing Loan Programs in Prairie Five’s service area.

The FAIM Program, also known as Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), helps low-wage earners build assets through home purchase, secondary education (for the applicant or an eligible child) or starting a small business. Account holders save funds, up to $480 per year, which is matched at a 3:1 rate for two years. Account holders must complete financial management classes and specific asset building classes in order to receive matching funds.

Contact: Kathy Sundstedt 320-269-7976

Or your County Outreach Worker

Energy Assistance Program

Energy Assistance Program is a federally and state funded program that assists low-income households in meeting their home heating costs and to promote self-sufficiency through low cost energy conservation activities and consumer education. The program is designed to provide for the equitable distribution of assistance without eliminating household responsibility for paying energy bills. EAP funds are made available to eligible households through local delivery agencies, to pay a portion of their costs for home energy, especially during the heating season. Funds are also available for weatherization activities and energy-related repairs. Energy Assistance payments are calculated to provide the highest level of benefits to household with the lowest incomes and the highest energy costs based on fuel types.

Crisis Repair Program

Crisis Repair Program is a component of the Energy Assistance Program. The Crisis Repair Program helps households that are experiencing problems or are in a no-heat situation to repair or replace the heating source. Each case is handled individually as the clients have different needs that need to be addressed.

Crisis Non-Repair Program

Crisis Non-Repair Program helps households that have no resources available to help resolve a heating or an electrical emergency during the winter months. This may involve paying an electrical disconnect, natural gas disconnect, or ordering and paying for additional fuel or oil or propane. The Crisis Non-Repair Program works with the vendor to resolve problems and will make referrals to other service providers when necessary.

Reach Out For Warmth

Reach Out For Warmth provides people in need with emergency assistance and emergency furnace repair. It is a community-based fuel fund with its success dependent upon the growing support of individuals, businesses, churches, civic groups, school children, energy vendors, and private foundations. Tax deductible donations are matched two dollars-to-one dollar.

Transportation Program Contact: Dick Olson 320-269-6579

The Prairie Five RIDES Transit System is a demand responsive combination of volunteer driver and bus service providing public transportation with the counties of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine. Points of destination outside the five counties with the buses are Minneapolis, Willmar, St. Cloud, Marshall. Rides can be provided by volunteer drivers to destinations buses do not go. Prairie Five RIDES operates city transit systems in Appleton, Canby, Madison and Ortonville.

Senior Nutrition Program Contact: Janelle Roth 320-269-7512