Many of us will get an extra $110 per month, starting July 1st, because of the Welfare Rights Committee’s fight in 2013. It is a shame we had to wait so long, but this our victory!

Back in 2013, politicians were too chicken to even use the words “raise the welfare grants,” so they passed a “housing allowance.” And they only gave it to families who were not in subsidized housing. While this was a victory, it is definitely not enough!

This year, the Welfare Rights Committee had a bill to “Double the Grants” for EVERYONE – on top of the $110 housing allowance. The cost of living has more than doubled since 1986, so we said the grant increase pas PAST DUE. For the first time, many legislators, the governor, the newspapers and agencies were taking up our call to “Raise the Welfare Grants!”

But at the end of session this year, the politicians didn’t do it. They ended the session on May 18 with over a billion dollars of surplus money just sitting there, while many of our families have nothing. This is a crime of stealing from the poor, again.

There will be Special Session soon – we need to tell them to give back the money!

Here are some things we can do:

1. Call or email the leadership before the Special Session starts. Tell them, “MFIP grants for poor families have not had an a cost of living increase in 30 years. This Special Session, I want you to raise the MFIP grants.”
Governor Mark Dayton – 651-201-3400
House Speaker Kurt Daudt: 651-296-5364
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk – 651-296-8881

2. Get ready to PROTEST at the Special Session.
We’ll post details when the politicians decide the date.