Number
151382
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BOHL
Title
Resolution urging the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to request a waiver from the FoodShare Employment and Training Program.
Analysis
This resolution urges Secretary Kitty Rhoades of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to consider the statistics of the Milwaukee County’s FoodShare Employment Training Program administered by ResCare and to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to exempt Milwaukee County from compulsory participation in the program.
Body
Whereas, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the state of Wisconsin is known as the FoodShare Wisconsin program, which was created to stop hunger and improve nutrition and health; and
Whereas, The individuals or families who use FoodShare include people of all ages who are employed but have low incomes, are living on small or fixed incomes, have lost their jobs, or have disabilities and are unable to work; and
Whereas, In 2013, Governor Scott Walker announced Wisconsin’s intention to require work for food assistance and the Legislature approved $24.5 million in State tax funds for 2015-16 plus an additional $27.4 million in federal funding to implement statewide work requirements for the poor; and
Whereas, Since April 1, 2015, the FoodShare program has required all nonexempt able-bodied adults without dependents on FoodShare to comply with a work requirement by enrolling in employment and worker training programs offered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Department of Children and Families or Department of Workforce Development, or face a 3-month time limitation on their FoodShare benefits; and
Whereas, In Milwaukee County, the FoodShare Employment and Training Program is a free program that offers services to help FoodShare members build their job skills and find job opportunities; and
Whereas, The company ResCare coordinates and administers the FoodShar...
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