The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the health and well-being of people and communities throughout Southeastern Michigan. Nonprofit organizations, local businesses and government agencies quickly mobilized to support workers and families during this unprecedented time. But the need is great and will continue to grow, and our traditional support systems are already struggling to keep up with demand.

We’re asking Congress to provide much-needed support for Michigan families, communities and service organizations. Please join us in urging Congress to take immediate action to expand food access, increase financial stability for households, increase funding for 2-1-1 and support state and local governments and nonprofit organizations.

While President Trump recently issued an executive order aimed at addressing some of these concerns, the order falls far short of the needs of our community. It is also currently unclear what effect this order will have due to questions of its legality. That’s why we are asking Congress to pass a bill immediately that will:

• Increase the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) maximum benefit by 15 percent and expand the pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) to help ensure all households in Michigan can continue to put food on the table
• Make additional investments in unemployment insurance so people who are out of work due to the pandemic don’t have to worry about losing their homes or being able to put food on the table.  
• Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit so households can keep more of their hard-earned money during this crisis.  
• Extend the eviction moratorium so families who are being impacted by this crisis can stay in their homes, preventing massive increases in homelessness throughout the country and reducing the spread of COVID-19.  
• Provide an emergency appropriation of $150 million to 2-1-1 nationally so households in need throughout the country can continue to be connected to the vital services they rely on to get by.  
• Stabilize state budgets with COVID-19 relief dollars. Michigan, like other hard-hit states, is grappling with a budget deficit due to the economic impact of the pandemic. Without federal assistance this could force deep cuts to essential programs and services like education, infrastructure and health care at the worst possible time.
• Support community service organizations by expanding and making permanent the nonitemizer charitable deduction and allocate additional funding for charities in the paycheck protection program so nonprofit organizations who are struggling to meet the increased demand can continue to provide the supports our communities rely on.  
• Expand and strengthen AmeriCorps by including the CORPS Act in the next COVID-19 relief bill. This measure will allow more Americans to come together to help communities respond and recover by expanding food pantry capacity, tutoring students and helping community members access health care and social services.Click here to contact Congress and urge them to support these essential measures.

Editor’s note: The photo at the top of this page was taken by Shelby Gansler of Shelby Tyler Co.