New Poverty Task Force Launched By Governor

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced the creation of the Michigan Poverty Task Force. Housed within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, or LEO, the task force will bring together representatives of 19 state agencies to study the issue of getting people out of poverty from several angles. LEO Director Jeff Donofrio tells WSJM News no single agency could solve the issue, and they’re looking at those below the poverty line as well as those just above it.

“We’re trying to make this Poverty Task Force about both of those populations because it’s really important that we make sure both that people are coming out of poverty, but we’re preventing people from going back into poverty, or getting into poverty in the first place,” Donofrio said.

Donofrio says finding a long-term solution to poverty will require cooperation. For example, that’s why the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is involved.

“If you don’t have DHHS there with you, who is making sure that you have child care or making sure you’re on SNAP if you need food assistance, if those aren’t together, we’re not going to have people moving out of poverty and we’re certainly not going to have them gain in income.”

Donofrio says the creation of the task force puts the full weight of the Whitmer administration behind an effort to improve the quality of life for the Michigan residents. It will begin meeting in January. Long-term solutions that could come out of it include programs related to job training, child care, and healthcare. The governor issued an executive order creating the task force this week.