November 2011

STATE-LEVEL ACTION 

Stand up for families and kids

On October 1, two new state policies impacting economically vulnerable families and children in our state took effect. The strict enforcement of time limits on needed cash assistance and the new asset testing for food assistance will hurt struggling families and people across our state. 

In early November, Michigan’s Department of Human Services announced that as of January 1, 2012, families may exempt one vehicle, and the second car cannot be valued at more than $15,000.  Please call Gov. Snyder’s office at 517-373-3400 or email him at Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov. Thank the governor for modifying the asset test for vehicles. Tell the governor that asset testing in general is not the way to go. The $5,000 cash asset threshold to receive food assistance is too low; the state should be encouraging people to create assets. Voice your opposition to the new cash assistance time limits. Now is not the time for these harsh policies. 

FEDERAL-LEVEL ACTION 

Congress’ Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the “Super Committee” or “Committee of 12”) has to produce a plan to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion by November 23rd. Anti-hunger advocates are deeply concerned that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) might be targeted for massive funding cuts or structural changes that could result in enrollment being capped and many struggling with hunger being kicked off the program. These changes would hurt the families still feeling the effects of the recession and the nearly 49 million Americans who lived in households struggling with hunger in 2010.

Click here to ask your Member of Congress to protect SNAP.

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