The Michigan Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity released a new report, Alleviating Poverty in Michigan, at a Monday morning news conference in Lansing. The report includes recommendations to Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm and the Michigan Legislature on poverty reduction methods.

In 2007-08, the commission held a series of statewide poverty forums to hear directly from people living in poverty about their experiences, observations and suggestions. Information gathered at the forums was used by the commission and the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop the agenda for the statewide Voices for Action Poverty Summit held in Detroit late in 2008.

Alleviating Poverty in Michigan is based on testimony given at the forums and the summit. The report identifies common themes in the statements made to the commission, including frustration, disconnection and alienation. Lack of access to needed services and too much regulation in service delivery were also major concerns.

DHS is working with the commission to achieve four key goals:

•  Improve customer service.
•  Improve outcomes for families using public services.
•  Increase access to healthy food.
•  Catalyze neighborhood and community assets.

Gov. Granholm and DHS Director Ismael Ahmed recently announced the Helping Hand portal as an online application to access human services at www.michigan.gov/helpinghand. The commission is partnering with the DHS to promote this resource in targeted communities across the state to improve customer service.

Ahmed recently testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support to address the safety net's response to the recession.

The commission is partnering with DHS to expand the core activities in the reauthorization for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) legislation for next year to improve employment outcomes for families. This would include expanding required core activities to include any type of educational component that could lead to obtaining a job.

Gov. Granholm, Ahmed and Department of Agriculture Director Don Kovisto promoted the Michigan Neighborhood Food Movers in Detroit to ensure inner city residents had access to fresh and healthy foods. The commission is partnering with DHS to promote and increase access to fresh and healthy foods in other inner cities across the state.

DHS and commission members are committed to working together to catalyze neighborhood and community assets through the Voices for Action network. This network brings service providers together with local leaders and consumers to design strategies to form better connections between formal and informal community and human services organizations.

Ahmed commended the commission for their hard work and dedication.

"They have been involved in our poverty reduction efforts since before the historic summit in Detroit," he added. "Now they've provided a new blueprint for action that I hope the governor and legislators will look at very seriously."

Commission chairman John Stephenson added, "We're aware that, in these difficult economic times, funding isn't available to implement all of the commission's recommendations, but we offer them as guidelines for prioritizing and focusing attention, advocacy and action."

"The commission was established to reduce the causes, conditions and effects of poverty, and to promote social and economic opportunities in Michigan," said Sonia Harb, former commission chairperson. "This report reflects the tireless commitment of our all-volunteer members, in terms of time and energy as well as advocacy."

For more information about the Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity or to obtain a copy of the report, please visit www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5460_41977---,00.html.