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"now serving N420 at door number 8"
peaceful, quiet, in and out
DABINIQUE TANNER, A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE, IS AT THE NORTHWEST FAMILY SERVICE CENTER FOR THE FIRST TIME
SHE GETS ASSISTANCE FOR FOOD AND CHILD CARE FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY
Having a childcare is really important, I need it for my job
I really don’t get that many hours at work so don’t have a lot of money to fill the refridgerator
having food stamps helps that
DABINIQUE GETS 21 HOURS A WEEK AT THE MOST. SHE MAKES 10.50 AN HOUR
it's coming and leaving, you know
WITHOUT THE HELP FROM THE COUNTY, SHE KNOWS HER LIFE WOULD BE A STRUGGLE
I don’t really know where I would be, I don’t wanna think about that, really
WITH HER THREE YEAR OLD SON, DABINIQUE APPRECIATES HOW EASILY
SHE GOT THROUGH THE PROCESS AT THE NORTHWEST HUB IN BROOKLYN CENTER
THIS FACILITY, WHICH OPENED IN OCTOBER 2012
WAS THE FIRST OF SIX HUMAN SERVICE CENTERS THAT WILL BE BUILT AROUND THE COUNTY
BRINGING ACCESS TO FOOD, MEDICAL, CHILDCARE SUPPORT AND OTHER IMPORTANT PROGRAMS
CLOSER TO WHERE CLIENTS LIVE, WORK AND ATTEND SCHOOL
THEY WILL LARGELY TAKE THE PLACE OF THE DOWNTOWN CENTURY PLAZA BUILDING
WHICH WILL BE VACATED BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR
it’s very inconvenient, it’s not a part of downtown that people know
and it just adds more stress to people whose lives are already under stress
HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER MIKE OPAT EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONVENIENCE
AND ACCESSIBLITY OF THE REGIONAL HUBS TO THOSE RESIDENTS
if someone has a problem and wondering where can I get help
or it’s gonna take a trip downtown, I’ll wait for a while, and then their problem gets worse
now we think that it’s easier to get to the hub, people will come earlier, then their problems would be more easily fixed
CLIENTS SAY THE OPENING OF THE NORTHWEST HUB HAS CUT THEIR TRANSIT AND WAITING TIMES
KAREN MATHIAS OF NORTH MINNEAPOLIS AGREES
it’s much easier to come down here, the parking is free
It’s much more accessible to me than the one in downtown Minneapolis
FOR KAREN, DOWNTOWN IS CLOSER TO HER HOME, BUT
I can remember I literally spent the entire day down there
just to make the initial applications
and here I’m able to come, usually I can meet my worker within maybe an hour
LISA GROVES, A PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE NORTHWEST HUB
EXPLAINS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS NEW FACILITY IS MORE EFFICIENT
It’s easier for clients to get through. They don’t have to stop at one point and move to the next one to the next spot
They just come in, check in, and they are seen by one of our staff members
LAVONYA THOMAS WORKS AT THE HUB, AND SHE UNDERSTANDS HER CLIENTS’ SITUATIONS
I’ve been both sides so I know about trying to go and meet your job counselor over here
then come here to see a financial worker, and you got a social worker at another place
so I think it’s such a good idea to have everybody under one roof
THIS SERVICE CENTER IS BUILT TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY
IT IS FAMILY FRIENDLY, AND MORE PROTECTIVE OF PEOPLE’S PRIVACY
WORKERS CONDUCT INTERVIEWS INSIDE PRIVATE OFFICES
A CHANGE FROM THE OPEN CUBICLES AT CENTURY PLAZA
I think it really helps to put a client in a position to feel more comfortable and relaxed
and willing to share information that might be needed to get their cases up properly
AND MANY SAY, EVEN THE DÉCOR HERE MAKES THEM FEEL MORE HOPEFUL
it’s much more positive in here, because when you are going through a hard time
you need something that's gonna help you, not depresses you more
it’s great for our residents, it’s close by
TIM WILLSON, THE MAYOR OF BROOKLYN CENTER SAYS
HAVING THE NORTHWEST FAMILY SERVICE CENTER HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL TO HIS CITY
HE ALSO SUSPECTS THERE’S BEEN AN UPTICK WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES
if you have people coming into your city and visiting a facility,
people are naturally gonna go to what’s convenient
ALL IN ALL, IT HAS BEEN A POSITIVE ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
I hear a lot of excitement about the facility here
REVEREND RUFUS CAMPBELL AGREES WITH THE MAYOR
HIS BROOKLYN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SITS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BUILDING
HE VOLUNTEERS AT THE CEAP FOOD SHELF ADJACENT TO THE HUB
I think our mandate is to serve our neighbors
and that’s what we try to do here at Brooklyn
as we reach out in partnerships with places like CEAP and Hennepin County
AND KIMBERLY GLOVER NEEDS THAT SERVICE RIGHT NOW. SHE IS BETWEEN HOMES
It’s a stepping stone. You’ve gotta crawl before you walk
and right now I’m crawling and just making baby steps so I can get a job
and secure more bigger, better things
DABINIQUE TANNER CAN RELATE TO KIMBERLY, AND SHE ALSO HAS A GOAL
get off this completely, no help, no nothing, no turning back, just go up from here
AND COMMISSIONER OPAT SAYS THAT’S EXACTLY WHY THE COUNTY IS MOVING ITS SERVICES CLOSER TO RESIDENTS IN NEED
we are helping people get that step, get that stabilization and move onto be a productive member of the community
that are self-sufficient and just doing better all around, and we are already seeing that happen