Homemakers Returning to Work
Overview
For women and men who have spent much or all of their work life caring for family and home, returning to the workplace or entering it for the first time can be a difficult transition.
That's especially true if the necessity to return to work is brought on by the loss of the family's primary financial support through some unexpected or urgent circumstances.
Through our Displaced Homemaker Program, we help people who have worked mainly in the home develop the marketable skills you'll need to find and maintain a job.
What We Offer
Our goal is to help you learn the skills necessary for finding a job that can support you and your family within a year of starting our program. Here's how we help:
- We assess your situation and coordinate any necessary intervention by other government agencies.
- We can help you address issues ranging from non-payment of child support to dealing with violent partners. Peer counseling is available.
- We work to assist you in pursuing a GED, diploma, certificate or degree that will help you find employment and develop a career. Into this mix we offer life skills courses.
- Prior to looking for a job we can prepare and counsel you. We assist with letters and resumes. Sometimes we can pay for day care during interviews or workshops, clothing and some transportation costs.
Eligibility Requirements
You must have provided unpaid household services for at least two years, have lost your primary source of income, and now find that you must support yourself and your family.
This can be from any number of personal factors: A separation, a divorce, desertion, a death or a disability of a spouse or partner. If you lose public assistance benefits, you can also qualify for our program.
You have to meet income guidelines based on a federal formula. Staff at one of our Workforce Centers or six Displaced Homemaker sites can help you understand those guidelines.
If you do not qualify for free services you can still use our program through sliding fee payments.
Services for displaced homemakers are available in more than 51 or Minnesota's 87 counties. To see if you're eligible and to apply for services contact one of our designated services providers.
For more information, contact
Taryn Galehdari
Phone: 651-259-7540.
TTY: 651-296-3900
Taryn.Galehdari@state.mn.us