Sept. 23, 2009

MARQUETTE, Mich. - Help is available for Michigan families adversely impacted by the state's troubled economy. That's the message Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Ismael Ahmed delivered when he visited Marquette County on Wednesday.

He spoke at the Preserve at Orianna Ridge, a low-income housing complex owned and operated by the Alger-Marquette Community Action Board. He was joined at the event by Marquette County DHS Director Rich Miketinac and Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency Executive Director Jeffrey Heino.

Ahmed highlighted several resources for individuals and families including a new online food assistance application, increased benefits, and a program that serves adults who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Almost 1.6 million people - about 16 percent of the state's population - now receive food assistance in Michigan, Ahmed said.

"We are dedicated to providing food assistance to as many eligible families as possible," he added. "To make it easier for more families to get help from us, we've made it possible to apply for food assistance online 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The online food assistance application can be found at www.michigan.gov/mibridges.

Ahmed noted that, in April, families on food assistance were granted a 13.6 percent increase in benefits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"That's significant," he said, "because we know every $5 in new Food Assistance Program benefits generates $9.20 in total economic activity."

He also highlighted the Michigan Combined Application Project, or MiCAP, which allows adults who receive SSI and live independently to receive Food Assistance Program benefits automatically.

"These initiatives," he concluded, "are innovative ways to enhance our customer service and increase access to available resources. They also help us achieve our mission of protecting the state's vulnerable children, adults and families."

There many more important resources available to families struggling to make ends meet during these difficult economic times, Miketinac said.

"Many of those families have never needed help before, and may not be familiar with the options available to them," he added.

One option is the State Emergency Relief (SER), a crisis intervention program that provides services such as payment for heating fuel, electricity and home repairs. Applications for SER are available at county DHS offices.

Heino pointed out another option, the weatherization program. Weatherization helps low-income families make their homes more energy efficient and reduces fuel costs by as much as 20 percent.

Under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Michigan will see a $243 million increase to weatherize 30,000 additional homes over the next three years for those who are having the most trouble paying their bills. Currently, Michigan's program ? mostly through a network of community action agencies ? weatherizes about 5,000 homes each year.

Weatherizing and improving efficiency of homes and businesses not only can save people money, but it creates jobs. The increase is expected to create between 700 and 1,300 jobs in Michigan.

"We are very excited about the allocation of ARRA funding to our community action agencies," Heino said. "These funds will allow our agencies to weatherize about 3,000 additional homes throughout the Upper Peninsula. The average reduction in energy consumption of 20 to 25 percent per home will provide families with some welcome relief in these challenging economic times."

For more information, please visit the DHS Web site. Follow us on Twitter @MichiganDHS and become a fan at www.facebook.com/MichiganDHS.