Being able to put food on the table, see a doctor, and keep the heat on in the winter are things most of us don’t think twice about, but for many families struggling to make ends meet, being able to afford the basics can be a challenge. In order to ensure everyone can maintain a basic standard of living, federal support programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Medicare and Medicaid, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program were implemented as resources to help families who earn low incomes. These tools are key to sustaining overall family and economic well-being. Unfortunately, TANF has not been keeping up with economic trends and participation has been on a downward trajectory ever since it went through structural changes implemented in 1996 under President Clinton – despite periods of high unemployment and higher child poverty rates:

• Year-over-year TANF participation has decreased 7 percent on average since its introduction in 1996

• Total TANF participation is down 74 percent since 1996

In order to function more effectively as a vital tool for helping to lift families out of poverty, TANF should be updated to reflect the needs of families in the 21^st century. Aside from just helping the poorest families by making investments that ensure TANF is working for the people who need it most, these changes would be an investment in Colorado.h

This brief is part of a more comprehensive report detailing the expansive impact of social safety net programs, such as SNAP, LEAP, Medicaid and Medicare. These critical tools for lifting people out of poverty are too often discussed in the context of funding cuts. At their core, these programs represent vital public investments helping otherwise struggling families make ends meet.

If you want to do your part to protect these important tools, there are three things you can do:

1. Follow the Colorado Fiscal Institute on Facebook and Twitter and share this report with your friends and followers there (be sure to tag us when you do).
2. Contact your Congressional representatives to tell them these programs matter for Colorado families. They should protect them for Coloradans in need and for the health of our economy.
3. Find out when your member of Congress or your senators are holding a public forum where you can make your voice heard about this important issue.