Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/colleen-oconnor-toberman/page/3/)
This spring I took a new job as a social worker in a food-shelf program. I spend a lot of my time helping people access income supports like SNAP (food support), so the past few months have been a crash course in navigating human-services systems that I haven’t personally needed to this point in my life. Continue Reading
As I’ve written before, the Summer Food Service Program will serve thousands of hungry Minnesota children this summer—children who may ordinarily rely on school-provided meals to keep their stomachs full. While the SFSP provides millions of these meals statewide, only about 15 percent of children in need participate. Continue Reading
When it comes to economic support programs for people in poverty, every legislative session brings a fresh debate over who “deserves” assistance and who doesn’t. One popular point of contention is that of asset limits—how much we account for a person’s possessions, and not just income, when it comes to determining need. For instance, what if someone is unemployed but has a car, house, or 401(1)k? Are they “poor” enough to qualify for government assistance? Continue Reading
Encouraging some people in poverty to access assistance programs like food support (formally the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) can be tough. This is especially true of senior citizens. While about 65 percent of eligible Minnesotans participate in SNAP, only 41 percent of eligible seniors do. The reasons for this disparity are plentiful: stigma, lack of awareness, the desire for independence, and the challenges of applying, to name a few. Continue Reading
Childcare is a costly part of many families’ budgets at any income level, but particularly for Minnesotans. Our state ranks among worst in childcare affordability; annual care for one infant averages $13,580 here (more than in-state tuition at the U of M). That’s nearly 16 percent of the median income for a two-parent family—and 52 percent of the median income for a single parent. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that childcare consumes no more than ten percent of a family’s income. Continue Reading
Think back to 1986. Take a moment to remember the days of 93-cent gallons of gas, landlines with answering machines, and bold hairstyles. A lot has changed since then, hasn’t it? The internet, which few people used back then, can be accessed from the smartphone in our pocket. People could smoke on airplanes in 1986; now smoking is banned in nearly every public space. Continue Reading
Some of the hardest-to-serve Minnesotans are the 1,300 who live in state-run residential facilities. These programs provide treatment and housing for people with chemical dependencies, mental illnesses, and developmental disabilities. Last week the Office of the Legislative Auditor issued a scathing review of how the Department of Human Services (DHS) manages their residential facilities. The report noted several major shortcomings that should be of concern to all of us, since our tax dollars fund these programs and our most vulnerable citizens reside in them. Continue Reading
Anna is a resident in the shelter at which I work. Despite having disabilities, Anna volunteers at a thrift store, takes care of her health, and hopes to attend college next fall. Anna’s grown son is educated and working, despite his own mental disabilities. Anna’s greatest wish is to have a home where her son can visit her, and see her as an example of success. She doesn’t need the expensive “crisis care” that a shelter provides—she just needs a modest apartment she can afford on her limited income. Continue Reading
I always look forward to my tax refund this time of year. Thanks to our mortgage and student loans, my partner and I receive a decent refund that we use to pay down student debt or perhaps enjoy a vacation. Continue Reading
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a fitting time to observe the inauguration of Barack Obama, our nation’s first African-American president. While we can celebrate all of the progress our country has made since the civil rights era, we must also acknowledge the work left to be done. Minnesotans are used to ranking near the top on many measures of livability, health, and education. Unfortunately, our racial gaps show that Minnesota’s success does not benefit everyone equally. Continue Reading