August 28, 2009
Radio address highlights actions to protect, better serve people during tough economic times
LANSING - In this week's radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said people can easily find information about jobs and training, unemployment benefits, food assistance, health care, and housing at Helping Hand, a new state Web site.
"You can file for unemployment benefits online," Granholm said. "If you're facing foreclosure, you can contact a homeownership counselor for assistance. You can apply for food assistance online - you don't have to visit a Department of Human Services office. By answering a few questions, you can determine if you qualify for other assistance such as Medicaid."
"Part of our effort to streamline government is the use of technology," Granholm continued. "So if somebody is seeking service, it is much easier to access it online."
Granholm said while Helping Hand covers many programs and services, it doesn't include every available resource in every Michigan community.
"This is why our partnerships with groups like United Way and the community action agencies are so important," Granholm said. "Helping Hand provides links to 2-1-1, the United Way system that connects people with local information and resources. Community action agencies are also pitching in. Staff at both those agencies and United Way's 2-1-1 also can help people fill out forms for the assistance they're seeking."
"Helping Hand is part of our effort to streamline state government and better serve and protect people," Granholm said. "During these tough times, we don't want to make it tough to get assistance. So when you or someone you know needs help, visit the Helping Hand Web site at michigan.gov/helping hand."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available on the governor's Web site at (
www.michigan.gov/gov
) for download, together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - Helping Hand
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
When someone is in distress, you offer a helping hand. And that's the concept behind a new state resource.
Helping Hand is a new state Web site where people can easily find information about jobs and training, unemployment benefits, food assistance, health care and housing. But it's really more than that. It's the pooling of resources by the state and groups like the Michigan Association of United Ways and the Michigan Community Action Agency Association to help thousands of people facing economic hardship.
You can file for unemployment benefits online. If you're facing foreclosure, you can contact a homeownership counselor for assistance. You can apply for food assistance online - you don't have to visit a Department of Human Services office. By answering a few questions, you can determine if you qualify for other assistance such as Medicaid.
Part of our effort to streamline government is the use of technology. So if somebody is seeking service, it is much easier to access it online than it is to have to go and stand in line at a Department of Human Services office or at an unemployment insurance line. We want to break down government so that it is easy to get what you need.
While Helping Hand covers many programs and services, it doesn't include every available resource in every Michigan community. And this is why our partnership with groups like United Way and the Community Action Agencies are so important. Helping Hand provides links to 2-1-1, the United Way system that connects people with local information and resources. By contacting 2-1-1 either online or by telephone, people can locate specific services in their area.
Community action agencies are also pitching in. People visiting agency offices across Michigan will be introduced to Helping Hand. Staff at both those agencies and United Way's 2-1-1 also can help people fill out forms for the assistance they're seeking. Helping Hand is just the latest in a series of actions we've taken to protect and better serve Michigan citizens, especially during these tough economic times.
So we've asked Congress to extend unemployment benefits and continue the extensions that are in place. We boosted staffing levels at state unemployment offices to speed up service. Through our No Worker Left Behind program, more than 88,000 people have enrolled for job training. A new state law gives homeowners an extra 90 days to prevent foreclosure. And Lt. Governor John Cherry is leading a workgroup to streamline state government even further.
Helping Hand is part of our effort to streamline state government and better serve and protect people. During these tough times, we don't want to make it tough to get assistance. So when you or someone you know needs help, visit the Helping Hand Web site at www.michigan.gov/helpinghand
Thank you for listening.
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