Granholm Unveils New Way to Help People Get Assistance They Need

August 26, 2009

Helping Hand part of actions to protect, better serve people during tough economic times

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today unveiled Helping Hand, a streamlined state Web site that will help the unemployed and others enduring economic hardship to easily find programs and services that may assist them.

"Helping Hand is a clear, innovative way to provide crucial information to Michigan citizens who need help during these tough economic times," Granholm said.  "We're determined to serve people better, and this one-stop center will help them find the assistance they need."

By going to www.michigan.gov/helpinghand, people will see five color tabs labeled jobs and training, unemployment benefits, health care, family support, and housing.  By clicking on those five tabs, people will find links to programs and services for their particular areas of need.

Through Helping Hand, people for the first time will be able to apply for food assistance online.  They will not have to visit a Department of Human Services office.

"This is a major change that will save people time and speed processing by our Department of Human Services," Granholm said.

Helping Hand also can help people determine if they may be eligible for unemployment benefits or certain types of public assistance such as Medicaid.

While Helping Hand covers many programs and services, it doesn't include every available resource in every Michigan community.  So the state is partnering with Michigan Association of United Ways by providing links on Helping Hand to 2-1-1, the United Way system that connects people with information and resources.

"United Ways and 2-1-1 applaud Governor Granholm for taking this important first step with Helping Hand connecting Michigan's families with needed services," said Scott Dzurka, president and CEO of Michigan Association of United Ways.  "In this challenging economy, nonprofits must partner with the state to maximize resources and provide an accessible, organized system of care."

The state also is partnering with the Michigan Community Action Agency Association.  People visiting community action agency offices will be introduced to Helping Hand, and if the office has available computers, people will be able to access Helping Hand themselves on those computers.

"Helping Hand is an important first step to where organizations such as the community action agency network are headed," said Jim Crisp, executive director of Michigan Community Action Agency Association.  "And where we're headed is having a single site that provides a person the opportunity to apply for all possible programs at one time and one place."

Helping Hand is just the latest in a series of strong actions taken by the governor and her administration to protect and better serve Michigan citizens during tough economic times.  They include:

• urging Congress last week to extend unemployment benefits and continue extensions already in place;
• hiring additional employees, expanding call center hours, increasing Internet capacity, and enhancing telephone capabilities at the Unemployment Insurance Agency to handle surging claims for unemployment benefits;
• helping Michigan workers train for new jobs through the state's No Worker Left Behind program, with more than 88,000 having enrolled in the program;
• passing a new law protecting homeowners from foreclosure by providing an extra 90 days for them to work with their lender on a modified loan;
• calling on auto insurance companies to freeze rates for 12 months while the Legislature works on comprehensive auto insurance reform;
• working on streamlining state government through a workgroup led by Lt. Governor John D. Cherry Jr. to provide better service at less cost to taxpayers.

To help spread the word about Helping Hand, the state is partnering with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.  A series of television and radio public service announcements featuring the governor will air soon about the new Web site.

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