Guide To Useful Resources

 

⚖️ FEDERAL AGENCIES

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights

• Why: Enforces nondiscrimination under federal assistance programs, especially for low-income services like EAP.

• Protected Classes: Race, color, national origin, disability, sex, age, and more. | Website

2. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

• Why: If utility denial is affecting safe housing or causing uninhabitable conditions.

• Website: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp

3. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division

• Why: Handles systemic racial discrimination and violations of civil rights under 42 U.S. Code § 1983 or § 2000d.

• Website: https://civilrights.justice.gov/

4. U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) (if education access or children are impacted by service denial)

• Website: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

5. Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (If disability-related discrimination overlaps with benefits or SSA interface)

• Website: https://www.ssa.gov/agency/civil-rights/

🏛️ MINNESOTA STATE AGENCIES

6. Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR)

• Why: Main state agency for enforcing the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA).

• Protected Classes: Race, disability, sex, public assistance status, etc.

• Website: https://mn.gov/mdhr/

7. Minnesota Attorney General’s Office – Civil Rights Division

• Why: Accepts complaints on unlawful or unethical conduct by nonprofits or public agencies, and discrimination.

• Website: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Complaint.asp

8. Minnesota Department of Commerce – Energy Assistance Program (EAP) Oversight

• Why: The EAP is administered through this department. You can escalate if a local agency (MVAC) is misusing the program.

• Website: https://mn.gov/commerce/

9. Minnesota Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities

• Why: If disability and mental health rights are implicated.

• Website: https://mn.gov/omhdd/

10. Office of Equity and Inclusion – Minnesota Department of Health

• Why: If the lack of heating and utilities has caused direct harm to your health.

• Website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/equity/index.html

⚖️ CIVIL RIGHTS, LEGAL & ADVOCACY GROUPS

11. ACLU of Minnesota

• Why: Racial and disability civil rights, systemic discrimination, and First Amendment violations.

• Website: https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/about/contact-us

12. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid / Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota

• Why: Free legal support for low-income, disabled, and BIPOC individuals facing denial of public services.

• Website: https://mylegalaid.org/

13. Disability Law Center of Minnesota

• Why: Advocates for people with disabilities and ensures rights under ADA and Section 504.

• Website: https://www.disabilitylawcenter.org/

HEALTH & DISPARITIES-FOCUSED AGENCIES

14. Minnesota Office of African American Health (via MN Department of Health)

• Why: Addressing racial health disparities due to lack of basic utilities and systemic neglect.

• Website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/equity/afam/index.html

✉️ OPTIONAL: Legislative and Media Exposure

15. Your State Legislator

• Why: File a formal constituent complaint with your State Senator and House Representative. They can apply pressure or request an investigation.

16. Minnesota NAACP Chapters

• Why: Community-level support and public visibility.

• Website: https://naacp.org/find-chapter

17. Media Outlets & Civil Society Platforms

• Why: Public accountability. Submit op-eds or documentation to newsrooms (e.g., MPR, Star Tribune, Sahan Journal).