Michigan Poverty Task Force

Lifting Michiganders Out of Poverty

"No parent should have to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table for their families. That's why I've charged this task force with identifying more ways we can lift families up and ensure they can build a good life for themselves here in Michigan. I plan to work very closely with this team to ensure that every parent can feed their families with healthy, nutritious food, put a roof over their heads, and keep them warm in the winter." - Governor Whitmer

According to Michigan Association of United Ways ALICE report, 1.5 million Michiganders struggle to afford the basic necessities of housing, child care, food, technology, health care and transportation.

While there are already many efforts underway throughout state government to assist individuals living in poverty, the Michigan Poverty Task Force is committed to finding ways to strengthen, broaden, coordinate and streamline those efforts, ensuring that Michigan families have access to the support they need.

Spotlight

Nonprofits encouraged to apply for $35M fund to help more Michiganders make ends meet

Michigan’s nonprofits who are struggling with the negative impacts and hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic can now take the first step to receive much needed funding from the $35 million MI Nonprofit Relief Fund for serving their hard-hit communities. The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) launched the relief fund, which is focused on assisting small charitable nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits can fill out the intent to apply at MiNonprofitRelief.org. MNA membership is not required to apply.

Read the full press release.

Opportunities for MI Nonprofits

Poverty Task Force News

Poverty by the Numbers

Today, 1.4 million Michiganders fall below the poverty level, but more importantly, the United Way’s ALICE Report shows that 43% or 4.3 million of working Michigan households struggle to afford the necessities like housing, childcare, food, technology, health care and transportation. To afford the basics, single adults need a salary of just over $21,000 and a family of four need over $61,000. The Michigan Poverty Task Force will work to identify and evaluate measures such as these to gain a full understanding of both the scope of poverty’s impact on Michigan families and communities, and the ways state government can best help those families and communities.

1.4M
of Michiganders are living in poverty

20%
of Michigan children in poverty

4.3M
of Michiganders in poverty or at risk of not making ends meet

View ALICE Report & Data

Task Force Report

The Task Force released its second set of policy recommendations to continue the State’s efforts to lift struggling Michiganders out of poverty and improve their health outcomes. The 2022 recommendations focused on five key areas:

Income and social protection
Housing, basic amenities and the environment
Early childhood development
Social inclusion and nondiscrimination
Access to affordable health services of decent quality

Download 2022 Report

Download 2021 Report

Task Force Members

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2019-19 to create the Michigan Poverty Task Force within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). The task force will be comprised of directors, or their designees, from a number of state departments and agencies and will be charged with making recommendations to the governor on how to best coordinate and activate efforts within state government to lift Michigan families out of poverty and help them on a path to opportunity. The Task Force will connect and collaborate with the public and key stakeholders in carrying out this important work.