LANSING, Mich. — A new coalition of nonprofits, advocates and researchers today announced the launch of the Cash for Michigan Families Coalition, a statewide effort to champion and safeguard programs and policies that expand unrestricted direct cash supports so Michigan families can achieve economic freedom and security.
The coalition unveiled its work during a virtual press event, where speakers described the scale of financial hardship facing Michigan households and the growing evidence that direct, no-strings-attached cash gets money to families faster and more effectively than many traditional assistance programs.
In 2024, 13.4% of Michigan households lived below the federal poverty level, and an additional 26.3% were asset-limited, income-constrained and employed (ALICE) — meaning they were working, above the poverty line, and still unable to afford basic necessities like housing, child care, food and transportation. Combined, nearly 40% of Michigan families struggle to make ends meet.
“The data is clear: direct cash reduces financial hardship, and it does it efficiently,” said Patrick Schaefer, economic security policy analyst at the Michigan League for Public Policy. “At a time when federal support is being pulled back, Michigan has an opportunity to lead by investing in what we know works, rather than watching more families fall further behind.”
The coalition’s launch comes as Michigan families face mounting pressure from rising costs and federal cuts to the social safety net, even as the state has become a national proving ground for direct cash approaches. One such example is Rx Kids, which began in Flint and has since expanded to more than 60 Michigan communities, delivered more than $55 million in unconditional cash to new moms and babies and shown measurable improvements in maternal and infant health and family financial stability.
The Cash for Michigan Families Coalition will work to protect and accelerate programs like these, advocate for policies that make direct cash assistance more accessible and dignified, and help grow understanding of why unrestricted cash is one of the most effective tools available to help Michigan families weather economic hardship.
“As a funder, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when families are trusted with flexible, unrestricted resources: they make the decisions that work best for their own households and actually move the needle in supporting their family,” said Dr. Anissa Eddie, director of foundation-led initiatives at the Steelcase Foundation. “This coalition brings together the partners we need to make that kind of support available to more Michigan families, not fewer.”
The coalition’s initial members include 482 Forward, Center for Employment Opportunities, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, Homeless Action Network of Detroit, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, Michigan League for Public Policy, Michigan United, Point Source Youth, Steelcase Foundation, UpTogether, and Wayne State University School of Social Work, among other partners who will continue to join in the months ahead.
