State and local leaders met in Traverse City recently to discuss the Michigan Poverty Task Force’s latest recommendations and share resources available to support families who need affordable housing.
The Task Force recently released 29 new policy recommendations to lift struggling Michiganders out of poverty and improve their health outcomes, addressing issues such as affordable housing in rural communities.
“Housing is a social determinant of health that has been widely examined by researchers and there are many ways that homelessness or low-quality housing contribute to poor health outcomes,” said Kim Trent, who leads the task force and is the deputy director of prosperity with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). “The Poverty Task Force has proposed innovative policy strategies designed to provide more and better housing options and neighborhood amenities for low-income Michiganders.”
The Task Force, convened by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, leverages the policy expertise of 14 state departments to create strategies that reduce poverty in Michigan.
The 2021 report contained 35 recommendations, including 14 that have been adopted or have had significant momentum addressing gaps in the state’s social safety net, with critical investments included in Gov. Whitmer’s FY22 budget.
“Reducing poverty in Michigan is one of our top priorities and the Poverty Task Force has worked hard to create policy recommendations that will support hard-working Michiganders who are struggling to make ends meet,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “The recommendations create a path toward prosperity in Michigan’s urban and rural communities.”
2022 Recommendations were made in eight key focus areas:
• Housing, basic amenities and the environment
• Early childhood development
• Income and social protection
• Social inclusion and nondiscrimination
• Access to affordable health services of decent quality
• Food Insecurity
• Unemployment and Job Insecurity
• Education
“In our region where nearly 40% of the population is financially struggling it is vital that we all do more to support hard-working families and children,” said Seth Johnson, executive director of United Way of Northwest Michigan. “We are extremely grateful to the Poverty Task Force and their members for these recommendations and look forward to working with our community and state to implement them.”
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