Putting food on the table and protecting residents, especially during COVID-19, [disproportionately impacting Black Americans at a higher rate] is a mission Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s championed for the past 10 months.
Today, Whitmer discussed what her administration has done, among other things, during the pandemic during a press conference regarding helping people who need access to food for residents whose finances have been impacted by the coronavirus.
“Our philosophy is that no one should have to worry about putting food on the table for their families – especially during a pandemic,” Whitmer said. “Michiganders need access to nutritious food to keep them healthy so they can succeed in the economy and realize their dreams, and so their children can excel in school and achieve their full potential. I will continue to fight for policies that will improve food security and look forward to working with President Joe Biden and Senator Debbie Stabenow to remove barriers to accessing food assistance.”
Last spring Michigan was the first state to offer food benefits to children who were unable to use free and reduced-price lunches because they were staying home due to COVID-19, according to a press release. It was also one of the first states to deliver increased monthly food assistance to families that were not already receiving maximum monthly benefits for their household sizes, according to a press release. Michigan also took action to prevent people from losing their food assistance during the pandemic, allowed them to use their benefits to buy food online, and provided the benefits to eligible college students enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs through a partnership involving the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth.
MDHHS’s Economic Stability Administration provides food assistance to low-income households using federal dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“Every day MDHHS staff in local offices from Southeast Michigan to the Upper Peninsula work to provide residents with access to food through SNAP benefits,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “It’s one of the most important things our department does. Our staff stepped up without missing a beat during difficult circumstances and met the increased need for food assistance that was created by the pandemic – even while our employees adjusted to working remotely to keep everyone safe.”
In May, more than 1.5 million Michiganders received more than $263 million in benefits from the Food Assistance Program. That was up from fewer than 1.2 million people who received more than $137 million in February – before the first COVID-19 cases were seen in the state. As the state’s economy has reopened, the number of people receiving food assistance has dropped to under 1.3 million, but the need is still great.
Other actions that Whitmer and MDHHS took to address food insecurity during COVID-19 include:
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Starting the Restaurant Meals Program, through which aging adults, residents with disabilities, and homeless people can use their food assistance to get hot prepared meals at participating restaurants. The program also helps an industry that has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
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Forming a Food Security Council that has made recommendations that are being implemented to address food insecurity.
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Providing home-delivered meals to older adults through Michigan’s aging network. More than 46,000 people received more than 6.4 million home-delivered meals from March through September 2020 – an 8% increase in the number of meals.
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Providing home-delivered meals to older adults through Michigan’s aging network while congregate dining sites were closed during the pandemic. More than 37,000 congregate meal participants received more than 1.6 million home-delivered meals during the fiscal year 2020.
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Distributing 47,600 quarantine boxes of 20 meals each to adults 60 and over through Area Agencies on Aging, as well as arranging for 115,428 USDA-produced boxes to be distributed to older adults by the local agencies.
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Distributing 230,000 USDA Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers to allow older adults to get local, fresh fruit and produce.
MDHHS also implemented a 15% increase supported by Whitmer and MDHHS and secured by Sen. Stabenow (D-MI) in the recently enacted Coronavirus Relief Act. This will increase food assistance benefits by $102 per month for a household of four, for six months.
“The COVID19 pandemic brought economic challenges to many Michigan households. Swift government action provided by the Governor’s administration brought emergency relief from the toxic stress of food insecurity,” said Phil Knight, executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
“At the same time, many who faced food security pre-COVID-19 have become more vulnerable; specifically, older adults, those quarantined or at greater health risk, individuals with disabilities, and those without transportation and/or residing in rural or underserved communities,” he said. “High food insecurity rates also correlate with pronounced racial disparities, in a manner similar to health disparities and COVID-19 health outcomes. By forming commissions and task forces to address these needs, collaborative efforts between state government and community-based organizations, like the Food Bank Council, Governor Whitmer has allowed partnerships to form that will last long after the pandemic is (passed). There is still much to do to meet the need but the political and personal will is present to address the challenges made plain by the pandemic.”
Also, Whitmer addressed the state’s desire to administer the appropriate vaccine dosage given shortages.
“We don’t yet have the kind of supply we need but we have a plan for 50,000 shots in the arm per day once we have the vaccines,” Whitmer said. “Every eligible Michigander who wants a vaccine will get one. The process is like a locomotive … it is cumbersome at the beginning … (I) just ask for patience.”
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy director for MDHHS discussed metrics for COVID-19 and said that there is “good news” all around as numbers across the board:
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Case rates are 203 cases per million; down 72% since November; (last week the number was at 225).
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Positivity rates are at 6.2%; (last week the number was at 6.8%)
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In-patient beds are at 9.2%; (last week the number was at 9.9%).
Khaldun added that the new variant, B.1.17, has shown up locally with at least 13 cases found in Washtenaw and at least four known cases in Wayne County.
“There are likely more cases that we have not identified,” Khaldun said adding that while the variant is more easily spread from person to person and could cause more infection and cases overall, it does not appear to cause more severe disease. “Our current test can identify it and vaccines appear to work against it. But this … more easily transmittable … (and) still very concerning. We don’t want to have to go backward… we want to continue to reopen our economy and get back to normalcy.”
Khaldun added that this normalcy entails still wearing a mask, getting tested for COVID-19 if needed, among other safety measures.
“Wearing a mask is still one of the most important things you can do to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Khaldun said.
To apply for food assistance or other public assistance benefits, go to www.Michigan.gov/MIBridges.
Find more information at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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