Commentary

Michigan can't afford social services cuts

H. Luke Shaefer

The Michigan Legislature is engaged in the unthinkable task of trying to fill a budget deficit of roughly $2.8 billion. No one envies the tough decisions they have to make.

However, one proposal under consideration -- while it might prove easy politically -- would do tremendous harm to millions of Michigan residents, and frankly would only lead to more problems down the road. We can't afford the $169 million in proposed cuts to the Department of Human Services.

Who would be hurt by these cuts? In the Senate version, it would be young children, especially in at-risk neighborhoods. The proposal would eliminate the Early Childhood Investment Corporation that offers programs that nurture young children. Research is at near-consensus that such programs are the closest thing we have to a silver bullet, helping the lives of participants for decades.

Ending the child care subsidies program would cause children from hard-working families to lose access to decent quality child care opportunities. Michigan's poor families are working harder than ever, but their earnings often barely cover quality childcare expenses. These subsidies are crucial to their success in the labor market.

Who else would be affected? Those who lost their job and apply for cash assistance, the disabled, and the elderly, among others.

Michigan's families need help now more than ever. Michigan Director of Human Services Ismael Ahmed reports that more than 3 million families received food assistance or basic health insurance in August alone. Caseworkers are seeing more and more people every month, and often these new requests for aid come from individuals who were solidly middle class until recently.

Yet the cuts that are being proposed would likely reduce the number of caseworkers responding to these needs, not increase them, making it harder for people to get aid.

If we reduce these critical services to Michigan families now, we will be paying the price for years to come. These services can often mean the difference between a family staying in their home instead of eviction.

These services are good investments. Intensive early childhood education can make the difference in a young person's life.

In the long run, these cuts will cost us. We cannot afford them.

H. Luke Shaefer is an assistant professor of social work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. E-mail comments to letters@detnews.com