LANSING, Mich. – Beginning Saturday, Nov. 1, more than 1.4 million Michiganders stand to lose access to critical food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and at least nine Head Start programs that provide vital early education, nutrition and health services for nearly 3,000 young children will face closing their doors due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“Every day that passes is causing irreversible damage to the necessary supports families need to survive and thrive,” said Alicia Guevara, CEO of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC). “To be clear, early education, health and nutrition support are not optional. We’re talking about essential infrastructure that keeps families stable. Without this, Michigan’s most vulnerable children will go hungry, and businesses will suffer from the loss of workers who rely on early care and education programs to stay in the workforce, keeping our economy strong.”
Without SNAP, food insecurity will increase for nearly 500,000 Michigan children, forcing families to make impossible choices between food, medication, housing, and other necessities. The failure to fund early childhood programs like Head Start means fewer safe, early care options for working parents, more early educators without a paycheck, and parents pushed out of the workforce.
Continuity of care is essential to healthy child development. Head Start closures or service interruptions would disrupt family stability and economic security, cutting off access to nutritious meals, physical and mental health checkups, and other vital supports. Reliable care is also crucial for the thousands of parents who depend on Head Start while they work.
Michigan residents in need of support starting Nov. 1 are encouraged to connect with their local food banks for food support or apply for child care assistance. Community partners and businesses are encouraged to support families, and in particular working parents, during these increasingly difficult challenges.
“The responsibility of our elected officials is to negotiate through hard discussions to reach bipartisan solutions that help communities. We strongly implore Michigan’s congressional leaders to return to the table to end the shutdown and restore access to the essential basic supports families depend on to make ends meet,” added Guevara.