Take Action: Protect Michigan Families from Devastating Budget Cuts

Take Action: Protect Michigan Families from Devastating Budget Cuts

Last week, the Michigan House majority advanced a budget proposal that makes sweeping cuts to critical services that social workers, families, and communities across the state rely on. If enacted, this plan would jeopardize the well-being of millions of Michiganders.

The House budget proposal includes:

• Nearly $4 billion in cuts to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

• $333.5 million cut to food assistance, reducing benefits for families already struggling to make ends meet.

• $100 million cut to food assistance benefits tied to federal changes.

• $21 million cut to adult dental Medicaid coverage.

• $9.9 million cut in local and federal funding for Medicaid mental health services.

• Prohibitions on state spending for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across departments.
  
  

These cuts would devastate Michigan’s safety net—hurting children, older adults, people with disabilities, and working families. They also undercut the ability of social workers to connect clients with the services they need most.

The budget now moves to the next phase of negotiations. If an agreement is not reached before October 1, Michigan risks a government shutdown.

We need your voice now. Contact your legislators and urge them to reject these harmful cuts and prioritize investments in Michigan’s people and communities.

Find your legislators:

• Michigan Senate Directory

• Michigan House Directory
  
  

📄 Read more:

• Bridge Michigan

• Michigan Advance

• Michigan Public

• WILX News
  
  

Together, social workers can make a difference. Let your legislators know that these cuts are unacceptable and that Michigan deserves a budget that supports—not harms—our communities.

MASSW Call to Action: Speak Up for Michigan Students!

Michigan’s future is at risk. The Michigan House has proposed a budget that diverts over $2 billion away from K-12 schools—funds that should be supporting our students, classrooms, and communities.

Instead of prioritizing smaller class sizes, mental health supports, and vital wraparound services, this budget shifts money away from students and leaves districts scrambling to cut staff, reduce course offerings, and increase class sizes.

As school social workers, we know firsthand how critical adequate funding is to meeting the needs of all students—academically, socially, and emotionally.

Now is the time to raise our voices. Legislators must hear directly from us that Michigan students deserve better.

Take Action Today:

• Contact your State Representative and State Senator.

Tell them: “Michigan students deserve a budget that fully funds K-12 education. Stop diverting dollars away from schools and put students first.”

Share your professional perspective on how cuts to funding will impact students’ mental health, access to services, and long-term success.

Our collective voice can make a difference. Let’s ensure lawmakers know that Michigan’s students cannot wait. We need a responsible, student-centered budget now.

From our partners at the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

The House Budget Recommendation passed yesterday includes significant funding reductions that will directly impact families and individuals experiencing housing instability. Most notably, the budget cuts $4 million from homeless assistance programs—funding that supports critical emergency shelter and rapid rehousing services across the state. Without these resources, many vulnerable individuals and families risk being left without safe and stable housing.

In addition, programs designed to help families stretch limited resources—such as diaper bank grants—have been reduced by 40%. Community-based services also face a 12% funding cut, undermining the very safety nets that support unhoused individuals and families.

These reductions threaten the well-being of our most at-risk residents and weaken the infrastructure our communities rely on to provide essential care and support.

Critical Disability Services at Risk in Proposed Budget (from the Disability Network Eastern Michigan)

The Michigan House of Representatives passed a budget bill yesterday that severely reduces funding for critical disability services. If enacted, this budget will force all 15 Centers for Independent Living (CIL) across the state of Michigan to cut or eliminate essential programs that thousands of people with disabilities rely on to live independently.

We are calling on the Michigan Senate and Governor Gretchen Whitmer to restore funding and protect services in the final state budget. We encourage you to reach out to them too. Their contact information can be found on these websites:

Senate: https://senate.michigan.gov/senators/all-senators

Governor: https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/contact

Michigan must not balance its budget on the backs of people with disabilities. We call on lawmakers to act now, restore this funding, restore these services, and uphold our state’s commitment to equity and independence. Rolling back funding to pre-2017 levels abandons the progress we have made and puts lives at risk.