Skip to main content
Turn on more accessible mode
Turn off more accessible mode
Skip Ribbon Commands
Turn off Animations
Turn on Animations
FollowFollow Focus on Content Focus on Content
Website input:
Help us make our website better. Give us your feedback in a short interview.
Dakota County Logo
  • Maps & Directions
  • |
  • Departments
  • |
  • About Us
  • |
  • Contact Us
Dakota County Logo
  • Government
      • Board of Commissioners
      • County Attorney
      • County Sheriff
      • Commissioner Meetings
      • County Manager
      • Budget & Financial Reports
      • Performance & Analysis
      • Land Use Planning
      • County Policies
      • Data Practices
      • Advisory Committees
      • Other Public Committees & Initiatives
      • Doing Business with the County
      • Information Technology
      • Grant Management
      • Jobs & Volunteering
      • Public Employee Training
      • Other Public Entities
      • Voting & Elections
  • Home & Property
      • Pay Property Taxes
      • Property Tax Statements
      • Property Tax 101
      • Property Tax Programs, Homesteads & Credits
      • Important Dates for Property Owners
      • Assessing Property
      • Recording Property Documents
      • Property Watch
      • Foreclosed Property
      • Tax-Forfeited Property
      • Online Property Maps
      • Online Property Records
      • Homebuyer & Homeowner Programs
      • Aggregate Tax
      • Evictions
      • Plats & Surveys
      • Taxing Districts & Tax Increment Financing
      • Selling Property
      • Maps & Mapping Services
  • Permits & Licenses
      • Service & License Centers
      • Birth Certificates
      • Death Certificates
      • Marriage Licenses & Certificates
      • Passports
      • Driver's License
      • Motor Vehicle Titles & Registration
      • Recreational Vehicle Licenses
      • Game & Fishing Licenses
      • Professional Licenses
      • Gambling Permits
      • Liquor Licenses
      • Cannabis Permits
      • Gun Permits
      • Assembly Licenses
      • Building & Land Use Permits
      • Business Hazardous Waste Licenses
      • Well Permits
      • Waste Hauler & Facilities Licenses
      • Highway Permits
  • Law & Justice
      • Most Wanted
      • Warrants
      • Criminal Complaint Search
      • Report a Crime Tip
      • Crime Prevention
      • Jail
      • Juvenile Detention
      • Crime Victim & Witness Support
      • Alternatives to Court
      • Service of Legal Documents
      • Law Library
      • Contact a Probation Officer
      • Probation & Community Programs
      • Conditions of Probation
      • Probation Fees & Restitution
      • District Courts
      • County Ordinances
      • Fingerprinting Services
      • County Attorney News Releases
      • County Sheriff News Releases
  • Health & Family
      • Healthy Living
      • Job Search Assistance
      • Parenting Help
      • Personal Finance
      • Public Assistance
      • Adult Protection
      • Child Care
      • Child Protection
      • Child Support
      • Adoption
      • Chemical Health
      • Foster Care
      • Mental Health
      • Aging & Disability Services
      • Emergency Preparedness
      • Health Services
      • Veterans Services
  • Environment
      • The Recycling Zone
      • Recycling Guide
      • Residential Recycling & Disposal
      • Business Recycling & Disposal
      • School Recycling & Disposal
      • Environmental Education Resources
      • Water Resources
      • Energy
      • Land Conservation
      • Sustainability
      • Environmental Funding
      • Environmental Reports & Studies
      • Report an Environmental Concern
  • Transportation
      • Current Road Construction
      • Planned Road Construction
      • Road Safety
      • Transportation Studies
      • Traffic Counts
      • Getting Around the County
      • Highways & Your Property
      • Transit
      • Contact Transportation
      • Transportation Planning
      • Sales & Use Tax
  • Maps & Directions About Us
    Departments Contact Us
Dakota County Home
Personal Finance
 
Search
  • Home
    • Health & Family
      • Personal Finance
        • Facing a Financial Crisis
          • Pages
            • default

​Contact

Financial Empowerment Services
651-554-5763
financialempowerment@co.dakota.mn.us

  • Financial Counseling
  • Everyday Personal Finance
  • Facing a Financial CrisisCurrently selected
    • Food Shelves & Community Meals
  • Getting Out of Debt
  • Higher Education
  • Starting a Business
  • Saving & Investing
  • Home Ownership
  • Getting Insurance
  • Credit Unions & Banks
  • Taxes
  • Veterans Services

Facing a Financial Crisis

Page Content
​Many Americans are one economic trauma away from facing a financial crisis like eviction, utility disconnect and foreclosure. If economic trauma such as sudden loss in income, illness, and volatile shifts in the financial markets are affecting your well-being, these resources are here to help.

Financial Assistance

In addition to Dakota and Scott counties, the following nonprofits offer financial and food assistance:
 
  • 360 Commu​nities
  • Neighbors
  • Hastings Family Service

Food Supports

  • Dakota County Public Assistance: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a county-run federal program that issues electronic food support benefits that can be used like a check or debit card in most food stores. The amount you receive is dependent upon your income and household expenses.  Learn more about other food resources accessible through Dakota County.
  • Food Shelves and Community Meals: Find information on food shelves and free community meals in Dakota County.

Stretching Your Food Dollar

  • WIC (Women, Infants & Children):  WIC provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.
  • Fare for All: Low-cost food purchasing programs open to everyone.
  • Minnesota Grown: Find the location and details of farmers' markets in your area. Some markets accept EBT.

Housing Supports

There are many ways to prevent mortgage foreclosure and evictions. These sites offer resources, counseling and programs to assist you:
 
  • Dakota County Housing Assistance: Dakota County residents who are homeless or at risk of losing your housing may call the Housing Crisis Line at 651-554-5751.​
  • Dakota County and Scott County Community Development Agencies: Free counseling assistance to help homeowners who are in or nearing foreclosure.​
  • HousingLink: Find affordable housing in your area.
  • Office of the Minnesota Attorney General: Know your rights as a tenant or landlord. Also includes resources for settling a dispute.
  • HOME Line: Free legal advice for tenants.

Utility Supports

  • CAP Agency: This Agency’s Energy Assistance Program helps eligible households maintain affordable, continuous and safe home energy. Their services include bill payment assistance, home energy crisis intervention, outreach, energy advocacy, information about utility consumer rights, and referrals.​
  • Energy CENTS Coalition: Promotes affordable utility service for low and fixed income people, to ensure the basic necessity of energy to all citizens, and to encourage the participation of low and fixed income citizens in energy issues and energy related decision-making.
  • Public Utilities Commission:  This agency’s Consumer Affairs Office helps resolve disputes between customers and utility companies.
  • Checklist to Avoid Utility Disconnection: If you are behind in your bills, these steps may help you avoid disconnection.

Last updated: 6/18/2025 3:06 PM

Administration Center
  • 1590 Highway 55
  • Hastings, MN 55033
  • Ph: 651-437-3191
  • Toll free: 800-247-1056
  •  
  • See all County buildings
    Social Media
  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Next Door
  • Sign up for E-News
    Quick Links
  • Home
  • Accessibility
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Language Translation
  • Job Opportunities
  • Make a Payment
  • Privacy Policy
Dakota County, Minnesota
Sign In