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MLRI Applauds Congress For Extending Replacement of Stolen SNAP Benefits

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, President Biden signed a continuing resolution to keep the government open until late December. We applaud the resolution’s continuation of federal replacement for SNAP benefits stolen through December 20, 2024. We are grateful to our Massachusetts delegation, particularly Congressman Jim McGovern, for their leadership in Congress and focus on this critical issue.

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Massachusetts FY25 Budget Includes 10% Cash Assistance Increase Starting April 2025

BOSTON, MA (July 29, 2024) – The Massachusetts FY 25 budget includes a 10 percent increase in cash assistance benefits for both TAFDC and EAEDC programs starting April 2025, marking another historic step forward for families in Deep Poverty. 

This increase means that the maximum TAFDC grant for a family of three will go from $783/month to $861/month, and the EAEDC grant for an older adult or a person with disabilities will increase from $401/month to $441/month.  Even with these increases, grants are still well below half of the federal poverty level – known as the Deep Poverty level – which is $1,076 a month for a family of three in 2024. 

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MLRI Joins Over 1,400 Organizations in Urging Congress to Protect and Strengthen SNAP

The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and 95 other Massachusetts organizations joined with over 1,400 state and national organizations calling on Congress to protect and strengthen the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the upcoming Farm Bill deliberations. 

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113 Massachusetts Organizations Oppose A Farm Bill That Cuts SNAP

Last week, House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson released the text of his Farm Bill proposal. His proposal would take $30 billion SNAP food dollars off the tables of extremely low-income families over the next decade – a $750 million cut for Massachusetts families between FY2027 and FY2033. If it were to be enacted, the bill would make the largest cuts to SNAP in nearly 30 years – since 1996’s failed welfare law.

Currently, 1 in 6 Massachusetts residents connect to SNAP to help put food on the table. A modestly priced meal in Massachusetts costs 30% to 70% more than the maximum SNAP benefit (and most families do not receive the maximum). 

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Spring Advocacy Updates

Our advocates know that meaningful change takes time – a win today only leads to change tomorrow if advocacy is ongoing.

Whether it is the restoration of state-funded food benefits for immigrants or the creation of access to counsel in eviction cases, when we take on issues, we are making a long-term commitment. 

The successes we’ve had in the past few months are the result of that committed advocacy – and will be the catalyst for more wins down the road. Thank you for joining us on this journey towards justice. 

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Lift Our Kids Coalition Rallies Against Governor’s Cash Assistance Cuts, Thurs. Jan. 11 at 11 AM, State House Steps

BOSTON, MA (Jan. 9, 2024) – The Lift Our Kids Coalition will rally on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 11 AM to voice its shock and dismay at Governor Healey’s cuts to cash assistance. The Governor eliminated an urgently needed 10% increase to cash assistance that was scheduled to start on April 1. 

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Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition Applauds Legislature and Governor Healey for Restoring Basic Nutrition Benefits to Legally Present Immigrants

La Colaborativa, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition praise food assistance for families at a time of need

BOSTON, MA: Members of the Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition, formed in January 2023 to address the basic unmet needs of legally present low income immigrant families in Massachusetts, lauded the General Court and Governor for passing a Supplemental Budget on December 4th that provides $6 million in state funding to restore basic benefits to legal immigrants ineligible for federal benefits.

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Lift Our Kids Coalition Urges Legislature to Raise Cash Assistance Grants and Commit to Cost of Living Increases

BOSTON, MA (October 10, 2023) – On Wednesday, the Lift Our Kids Coalition submitted a 73-page packet of written testimony to the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities from supporters of bills to Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty (H.144/S.75) on Wednesday.  The Committee heard oral testimony a month ago.  The packet includes testimony from 23 organizations and two individuals, sharing examples of how low cash assistance grant levels harm families and children in communities across Massachusetts and urging the Committee to act on the bills, which would set a floor for cash assistance at 50% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and commit to increases in grants to keep pace with inflation. 

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