Committee hears bill to restore funding for Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership serving displaced homemakers

Senate File 799 would appropriate $350,000, split equally among six regional providers of the Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership (the Displaced Homemakers program). Senator Jen (first name not specified in transcript) Gustafson introduced the bill and said the program helps people who were primarily homemakers reenter the workforce after loss of a spouse or partner.

Jean Keenan, representing the program, told the committee the network provides individualized, trauma-informed services, one-on-one counseling, workshops and small direct-support payments for barriers to employment. "Most importantly, the program helps families to stabilize by providing trauma informed care," Keenan said, and noted participants may be served for 12 months or longer when necessary.

A participant story was offered by an advocate for a graduate identified as Betty Roehl, who described being "isolated, grief stricken" after her husband left and credited the program with providing life skills, college enrollment assistance and a path to full-time employment at $20.38 per hour on program exit.

Keenan said previous state funding had been provided from workforce development sources and that last-cycle funding covered part of the program; the request reflects higher operating costs and the desire to restore ongoing capacity. She said the program previously produced a calculated state return on investment of $26.89 to $1 by reducing public assistance costs.

Senators expressed support and asked about cost drivers for the larger request. Keenan said rural delivery, staff mileage and staff retention pressures contributed to higher costs.

Senate File 799 was laid over for possible inclusion.