Letter to the Editor: Holmes - County agencies

My name is Tom Holmes, candidate for the Minnehaha County Commission. To help me prepare for that role, I have attended county commission meetings and I have met with the heads of each of the departments. I can tell you that we have a dedicated group of professionals who take great pride in providing the best possible service for us.  

One afternoon I spent time talking with Kari Benz and members of her staff. Kari is the Director of the Health and Human Services Department for Minnehaha County. The department works to help those who live among us who struggle to survive from one day to the next, providing them with financial assistance and hope.

Those individuals requesting assistance to help them pay bills are required to complete an application process based upon the federal model for personal income. Interestingly, people are asked to repay assistance they receive based upon their ability to pay.  

There are also those in the county who cannot afford basic health care. Often, they wait until they are chronically ill before they seek medical help. Many times, they end up in an emergency room or in an acute care facility. The county reimburses the hospitals for this care at the Medicaid rate. The department budgets $500,000 for this cost. The hospitals attempt to obtain the money from the individual based upon their ability to pay or they simply absorb the cost.

In the 1980s the state legislature codified how counties deal with indigent people. Each county establishes its own guidelines in accordance with these laws.

There are two additional programs offered by the department to assist those in need. They are the Alliance and the Safe Home programs.

The Alliance program focuses on those who have a history in the criminal justice system, helping violators to reenter society. Participants enter the program voluntarily, nearly all are homeless. Participants are provided intensive case management to assist them as they cope with mental illness or drug abuse.

The Safe Home program is designed to provide chronically homeless individuals struggling with severe alcohol dependence permanent housing.

As I listened to the presentation by Kari and her staff, I was touched by their sincere concern for those less fortunate. The programs offered by the Health and Human Services Department help individuals restart their lives and become productive members of society or simply keep them off the street and out of the legal system.  

Tom Holmes

Candidate for Minnehaha County Commission