Support the financial well-being of families
Ensure uninterrupted access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by covering the state’s share of administrative costs
More than 650,000 children in Georgia, including 201,000 under age six, rely on SNAP to access nutritious food. As a result of recent federal changes, states are now required to increase their share of SNAP administrative costs from 50% to 75% to maintain full federal support and avoid financial penalties.
To comply with this new mandate and safeguard the integrity of SNAP, Georgia must allocate an additional $50 million in state funding for SNAP administrative operations. Without this investment, the state risks a reduction in federal SNAP funding and disruptions for Georgia families, ultimately leaving children hungry.
Prioritize families with young children experiencing housing insecurity
Families with young children are more likely to experience homelessness and are the fastest-growing segment of the population facing housing insecurity. Policymakers can promote safe, stable, and secure housing for young children and their families by. . .
- Considering the needs of young children and their families in housing-related legislation and funding.
- Enhancing tenant protections, especially for families with young children who are most likely to experience eviction.
- Prioritizing children experiencing homelessness within related services, such as Medicaid and SNAP.
Help families with young children afford diapers and other basic needs through strategies such as eliminating the state sales tax on diapers or enhancing Georgia’s young child tax credit
Raising a young child is both challenging and increasingly expensive, stretching families’ time, energy, and budgets. One in two families struggle to afford diapers a basic necessity that keeps babies healthy. Furthermore, young children cannot attend child care programs without diapers, putting parents’ employment at risk.
Additional reading:
Invest in TANF income support for family
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) can reduce financial stress and help lift children out of poverty by helping families meet their basic needs. Georgia can strengthen TANF by increasing monthly eligibility limits, raising the monthly benefit amount, and updating both the lifetime limit and the asset limit from $1,000 to $5,000.
Currently, families must earn less than minimum wage to qualify, even while meeting work requirements—an unsustainable standard.
