FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
May 13, 2015
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Senate Committee Vote Punishes Children For Being Homeless, Hurts Families
Conservatives continue to wage war against Michigan’s most needy
LANSING — Today, a Senate Committee chose to ignore the struggles faced by homeless and displaced families by voting to strip them of much-needed assistance if a child misses too much school. The bill could take food directly out of the mouths of Michigan’s neediest families.
The FIP program provides temporary assistance to pregnant women and families with children to help pay for the basic necessities, like rent, utilities and food.
“If conservatives in the legislature really wanted to improve school attendance, they’d remove the barriers that children face when trying to get to school, not taking the food right out of their mouths,” said Sam Inglot, communications specialist with Progress Michigan. “This is just another attack on needy families by conservatives in the legislature.”
Ensuring families have access to transportation, stable housing and affordable childcare would help prevent kids from missing school. Forcing a family to send a child to school hungry because they’re homeless won’t solve the problem.
“By codifying this policy into state law, conservative elected officials are giving no leeway for the Department of Health and Human Services to look at each case individually and make decisions that are in the best interest of the family,” Inglot continued. “Tying the hands of social service workers with a one-size-fits-all policy completely ignores the harsh realities that so many children in this state face.”
The bill now heads to the Senate floor where it must pass before going to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk for signature.
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