Gov. Whitmer unveils new anti-poverty strategies and policy recommendations released in Michigan Poverty Task Force 2026 report

LANSING, Mich.—The Michigan Poverty Task Force (PTF) released its 2026 Poverty Task Force Report to highlight the scope of poverty’s impact across the state, and provide recommendations to lift Michiganders out of poverty, connect families in every corner of Michigan with economic opportunity, improve quality of life, improve outcomes and create real change.

“The Poverty Task Force’s latest recommendations will help Michigan continue our bold progress to reduce poverty, expand economic opportunity and help more families achieve long-term stability,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Addressing poverty head on is critical to building stronger communities, improving health and educational outcomes, supporting workforce participation and ensuring every Michigander has the opportunity to thrive. Let’s keep working hard to make sure everyone can make it in Michigan.”

The new 2026 Poverty Task Force Report outlines policy recommendations with clear goals, including:

• Improve pathways to quality employment
• Enhance public safety by removing barriers to economic participation
• Provide pathways to prosperity through stable, affordable housing
• Support prosperous futures for Michigan's youth

“Investing in people and removing barriers to opportunity is helping Michigan create a more equitable and prosperous future for families across the state," said LEO Deputy Director for Prosperity Kim Trent. “While there is much work that lies ahead, this report offers state government solid strategies to help financially struggling families in Michigan thrive.”

The new report also includes seven recommendations that come directly from the Anti-Poverty Strategies Report, based on a mixed-methods analysis of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in Michigan conducted by University of Kansas’s Center for Public Partnerships & Research:

• Eliminate full family sanctions and lifetime bans to create a more stable safety net for children
• Reduce requirements that go beyond federal standards and allow more time for compliance so that families can gain stability
• Continue to collaborate with local and statewide partnerships dedicated to housing, homelessness prevention and mental health services for Family Independence Program clients with a focus on streamlining enrollment in services
• Invest in and incentivize more creative core activities that engage client in evidence-based barrier removal activities such as on-the-job training and allow more time, as needed, to complete education and training goals that increase the likelihood of higher-paying wages
• Employ more Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) staff and allow more time for processing cases, interviewing, trust-building and assessing barriers
• Prioritize families under 200% federal poverty line for all TANF funded programming
• Create a housing assistance supplemental grant on top of cash assistance

In 2024, a Michigan family of four with two adults and two children in childcare needed $78,216 annually to cover basic expenses. According to United Way’s ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, and Employed) data, 40% of Michiganders live at or below this threshold. Of those households, 26% earn more than the federal poverty level but still don’t make enough to afford basic necessities.

“One in four Michigan households earn above the poverty line, but don’t make enough to cover the basics,” said Kaitlynn Lamie, President & CEO of the Michigan Association of United Ways. “When Gov. Whitmer and the Michigan Poverty Task Force chose to include these Michiganders in their mission, they took a historic step and raised the bar for financial survival in our state. When ALICE thrives, our economy and communities thrive, too. We’re proud to partner with Michigan’s Poverty Task Force in continuing our efforts to reduce poverty in Michigan."

Michigan has taken bold, measurable steps to reduce poverty and expand opportunity for families across the state, including:

Rx Kids: Scaling a Proven Solution to Infant Poverty

In alignment with a 2021 recommendation to expand maternal-infant health initiatives, Michigan has made historic progress with the growth of Rx Kids, the nation’s first community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program.

Originally launched in Flint in 2024, Rx Kids provides expectant mothers with a one-time $1,500 payment during pregnancy and $500 per month for their baby’s first 6 to 12 months of life. Backed by a $270 million state investment, the program is now expanding to reach nearly 100,000 babies across Michigan, covering approximately one-third of all births statewide.

Expanding Energy Access to Support Michigan Families

In a significant step toward making utilities more affordable for Michiganders, especially those in the ALICE population, Gov. Whitmer signed a package of bills in December 2024 aimed at reducing energy costs and expanding access to assistance programs. These changes are especially critical for ALICE households, who often struggle to keep up with rising utility costs.

Expanding Access to Nutrition: A Key Strategy in Alleviating Child Poverty

As part of Michigan’s broader strategy to reduce poverty and support working families, the FY26 state budget includes dedicated funding to continue providing free school meals to all public-school students. Signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, this investment delivers $10,050 in per-pupil funding and sustains universal access to school meals — an essential tool in the fight against food insecurity.

Leveraging Data to Drive Equitable Policy and Program Outcomes

To effectively promote prosperity for all Michiganders, especially those historically underserved, the State of Michigan is actively advancing its capacity to use data as a strategic asset. The Center for Data & Analytics within the Department of Technology, Management and Budget is leading efforts to enhance cross departmental data sharing, analysis and collaboration. The center is working closely with state agencies to break down silos, streamline access to timely data and build the infrastructure needed for robust, evidence-based decision-making.

Read the full task force report.

Visit United Way Michigan’s ALICE report.

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About the Michigan Poverty Task Force

The Michigan Poverty Task Force identifies and coordinates efforts within state government to life Michigan families out of poverty and help put them on a path to prosperity. They work across state government to find ways to strengthen, broaden, coordinate and streamline those efforts, ensuring that Michigan families have access to the support they need. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/PovertyTaskForce.