Minnesota: Advocating to Extend the TANF Emergency Fund

The Half in Ten partners in Minnesota are focused on the immediate, as well as plans for the winter. The Affirmative Options Coalition has been working with its members to urge our state’s two senators to renew funding for the emergency TANF Emergency Fund. Minnesota has been able to invest $11 million from TANF into creating short-term, skill-building jobs for parents on the state’s welfare to work program. The coalition is working with nonprofit employment services agencies to identify participants and employers helped by the program who are willing to tell their individual stories to news media—and to Senator Al Franken and his staff.

A Minnesota Without Poverty is planning a major statewide convention for December 9th to once again draw attention to the need to tackle poverty in Minnesota. All three candidates for governor have been asked to commit to attending that event if they are elected. Two of the candidates have agreed to do so if elected. The event will also feature web-linked connections around the state.