A government shutdown raises grave concerns about the widespread impact on Michigan citizens who need state-administered programs to keep their families fed, housed, healthy and their children in school.
Among the concerns:· Statewide, 600,000 children depend on the prompt processing of child support payments.
· There are 97,000 families that need cash assistance or state disability assistance to make October rent payments.
· Monthly adoption subsidies help families of 25,000 children pay the household bills.
· More than 1.5 million residents, from newborns to seniors in nursing homes, receive medical services through Medicaid. That's one in every seven residents.
· Food assistance is used by 1.2 million Michigan citizens.
· Day care for 100,000 low-income children is paid by the state so their parents can keep their jobs.
· Foster families provide care for more than 10,000 children and receive stipends to help pay the household expenses.
· Protective services workers each year investigate families where roughly 160,000 children reside to assess reports of abuse or neglect. About one in every five cases has been confirmed in recent years.
And with the DHS out, a few more complications arise-
The potential of skeleton staffing of Department of Human Services offices also raises concerns that unanticipated emergency needs may not be met. For example, last October, 12,831 families received emergency help to keep their homes heated and lights on. Also, in October 2006, state emergency funds paid for the burials of 357 indigent citizens who had no money, family or friends to pay for the services.
This is just for starters. The total ramifications are yet to be seen.
We will find out just how much state government really does do for us by the time this is all over. Maybe we will come to appreciate it more.
Visit the Michigan League for Human Services here.