Households in Massachusetts struggling to make ends meet could have a bit much less to fret about this summer season when college lets out, as Gov. Maura Healey introduced her administration will present meals help funds to households who want it.
The Healey administration, in accordance with an announcement made Tuesday, has acquired the federal authorities’s help to offer a money profit to low-income households with school-aged kids, bridging the hole between the top of 1 college yr and the following.
“In Massachusetts, we are not leaving federal dollars on the table that could support children and families’ food security. In partnership with our State Legislature, we made universal free school meals permanent. And with this new program, we are working to ensure children and families have access to healthy food all year long,” Healey stated with the announcement.
This system, known as Summer time EBT, will use $70 million in federal funds to make qualifying households eligible to use for a one-time money cost of $120. That works out to $40 per 30 days to assist cowl the price of meals by July, August, and September.
In response to Division of Transitional Help Commissioner Jeff McCue, the summer season could be a making an attempt time for some households, as lots of the state’s 600,000 college students depend on college supplied meals to complement their vitamin.
“When school is out for summer break, hundreds of thousands of students across Massachusetts lose access to regular breakfast and lunch programs, putting them at a higher risk of food insecurity. Summer EBT will serve as a vital resource for our youngest residents, supplying them with the nutrition they need to learn and grow,” McCue stated.
The brand new program, in accordance with the Healey administration, will run concurrently with the state’s Summer time Eats program, which offers free meals to all state residents underneath the age of 19, and comes following the state’s passage of a common free college meals program.
“I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress for permanently establishing this child nutrition program. Massachusetts is proud to be utilizing all tools available so kids can focus on learning and play, not where their next meal is coming from,” Healey stated.
Massachusetts households who’re already enrolled within the Supplemental Diet Help Program or the state’s Transitional Assist to Households with Dependent Youngsters program will mechanically obtain the funds and don’t have to take any extra steps.
Households who usually are not mechanically enrolled by participation in one other help program can apply for the Summer time EBT program by visiting dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov between June 15 and Sept. 7.
