Hennepin County is pleased to open its first regional office to provide human services at the Northwest Family Service Center, 7501 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center. The office will be open for business starting Monday, Oct. 1, from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The county will be opening six regional offices, so people will no longer need to drive to downtown Minneapolis to apply for or renew benefits, including Child Support, SNAP (food support), cash assistance, health care programs and emergency assistance.
 
Hennepin’s partners in the building – Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) and Osseo Area Schools – are also dedicated to meeting critical needs in the northwest metropolitan area. CEAP has a food shelf, clothing closet and more; Osseo Area Schools provides K-12 enrollment assistance and adult education services.
 
“The Hub and the partnerships make it easier for families to get help when they need it close to home and they can have ready access to education, which is critical to long-term success. We are much better working together to meet the critical needs people have,” said Hennepin County
 
Board Chair Mike Opat.
 
“This is our first community-based office that will provide access to the full complement of social, financial and public health services that we offer,” said Rex Holzemer, area director in charge of regionalization for the county’s Human Services and Public Health Department.
 
“Decades ago most of our clients came from Minneapolis; as demographics have changed and our services have expanded to serve a broader range of income levels, that’s no longer the case. It only makes sense to put our offices closer to where our clients live.”
 
The public is invited to grand opening celebration with all the partners Thursday, Oct. 25, from 4 – 6 p.m. (short program 5 p.m.) More details will be announced closer to the date.