Program: Employment/training support services
Appropriation: |
Federal Funds: |
$13,376,600 |
|
GF/GP: |
$1,475,100 |
|
Total: |
$14,851,700[17] |
Program Description:
This appropriation funds a program designed to assist Michigan’s jobless in their pursuit of employment.
Recommended Action:
The state should eliminate this program. Michigan’s civil society — which includes individuals, nonprofits, religious organizations, businesses and fraternal organizations — works to help people in need and will continue to do so.
Relieving businesses and people of the taxes they pay to fund these programs will allow them to use their own resources to hire and train people instead of relying on government to do it. Furthermore, there are several non-profit organizations already providing such services. Savings: $14,851,700.
Program: Project zero
Appropriation: |
Federal Funds: |
$12,132,500 |
|
Total: |
$12,132,500[18] |
Program Description:
This appropriation funds Project Zero. This initiative is aimed at helping people progress from needing public assistance toward self-sufficiency. The goal of Project Zero is to reduce to “zero” the number of work-ready Family Independence Program (FIP, formerly AFDC) households without earned income. Stated another way, the goal of Project Zero is to assist all FIP families who are expected to work, earn income and achieve self-sufficiency. The funds are used to help identify and remove barriers to employment by providing job-search assistance, education and training programs, and employment-related supportive services such as transportation allowances, uniforms, tools, and automobile repairs.[19]
Recommended Action:
This program should be eliminated. The state should eliminate this program. Michigan’s civil society — which includes individuals, nonprofits, religious organizations, businesses and fraternal organizations — works to help people in need and will continue to do so.
These private human welfare service providers could do a great deal more if government did not: a) crowd them out with programs of its own; b) take from citizens the very money (in taxes) they might otherwise contribute to these organizations; and c) engage in charity that requires nothing of the recipient.
Michigan’s government should step aside and allow charitable organizations to do the work they are most qualified to do. This would not only be of the greatest help to the poor; it also would revitalize community life by giving those more fortunate the opportunity to take personally the task of caring for their less fortunate neighbors. Savings: $12,132,500.
Program: Community services block grants
Appropriation: |
Federal Funds: |
$24,350,000 |
|
Total: |
$24,350,000[20] |
Program Description:
This appropriation funds the block grant program. This program seeks to assist low-income individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency and to address the causes of poverty. Funding is provided for 9 major categories: employment, education, income management, housing, emergency services, nutrition, linkages with other programs, health, and self-sufficiency.[21] Some of the funding is used to lobby the federal government to increase its support for Michigan programs aimed at helping specialized groups.
Recommended Action:
The state should eliminate this program. Michigan’s civil society — which includes individuals, nonprofits, religious organizations, businesses and fraternal organizations — works to help people in need and will continue to do so. See “recommended action,” above, for more details. Savings: $24,350,000.