and food banks and pantries across the state stand to get a much needed boost.
The latest federal stimulus package earmarks $13 billion for food assistance, including a 15% increase in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits through June and additional money for food banks, as Americans continue to struggle to put food on the table. When money s tight, the grocery budget is often one of the first sacrifices that a family will make because it s one of the quickest or easiest ones to make, said Julie Cassidy, a senior policy analyst at the Michigan League for Public Policy.
In Michigan, a one-person household getting $204 in maximum monthly food stamp benefits can expect to receive $234, as part of the new stimulus. A two-person household getting $374 per month would be bumped up to $430, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.