|
Let's protect the social safety net in Jefferson County!
On Friday, I was pleased to participate in a Mother's Day roundtable discussion with several mothers of preschoolers from our Jeffco Head Start and Jeffco Prosperity program. The discussion was hosted by Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen to discuss potential federal budget cuts to several safety net programs that Jeffco administers. As I listened to these courageous women share their stories, it became abundantly clear that the safety net programs currently on the chopping block are not just abstract policy issues, but lifelines that real people depend on.
This week, Congress began a budget process known as reconciliation, which is the process in which any potential cuts to safety net programs will occur. Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated he wants to vote on the budget reconciliation package before Memorial Day, suggesting this is an urgent matter. Jeffco has concerns about the proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) financing and requirements. These programs provide critical services to our most vulnerable residents, including children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and low-income adults.
As the largest federal nutrition program reaching nearly 42 million households, SNAP is a foundational part of the social safety net and has a significant impact on combating hunger and poverty in low-income households. Nearly 600,000 Colorado residents, or 10% of the state population (1 in 10) rely on SNAP. Approximately 34,000 of those households were from Jeffco. We know that more than 64% of SNAP participants are in families with children, 25% are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled, and more than 46% are in working families.
The reduction of TANF funding would also have a significant impact on counties. TANF represents an important source of flexible funding for a variety of anti-poverty activities benefitting vulnerable residents, including cash assistance, child care, education, job training and work support programs. On average, approximately 1.5 million children and 497,500 adults in the U.S. receive TANF on a monthly basis. In Jeffco, this translates to approximately 700 families receiving support. Our county relies on the critical flexibility of the TANF program in order to efficiently combat poverty in our community.
Lastly, SSBG funds support 29 different types of services that reduce dependency and promote self-sufficiency; protect children and adults from neglect, abuse and exploitation; and help individuals who are unable to take care of themselves to stay in their homes or to find the best institutional arrangements. In fact, 20 million individuals, 46 percent of whom were children, received services supported in whole or in part by SSBG in the U.S. last year. In 2022, Jeffco provided services through SSBG to 325 individuals and 117 households, reaching a total of 20,000 individuals annually. Notably, the highest share of SSBG spending goes toward child welfare and child protective services, counseling and support services, and adult protective services which prevent and remedy abuse, neglect and exploitation of the elderly and disabled adults.
Ensuring the strength of SNAP, TANF, and SSBG is essential for Jefferson County to provide vital support to individuals and families facing economic hardship. These programs form the foundation of the social safety net are critical to maintaining the well-being and resilience of those in need. Please take a moment to help advocate on behalf of these important programs by following the Action Item steps below.
Thank you!
| 
