Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of a Montana Supreme Court decision ensuring equal access to justice, even for people who cannot afford court costs and fees.
The Montana Department of Justice requires a court to waive filing fees in civil cases for people who receive certain government benefits like SNAP, WIC and Medicaid.
Victoria Deschamps, plaintiff in Deschamps v. Montana 21st Judicial District Court, petitioned for a divorce in court and qualified for a waiver of the $200 filing fee, but it was denied by a lower court, which asked for more details on her finances, twice.
Amy Reavis, staff attorney for the Montana Legal Services Association, brought her case to the Montana Supreme Court and won.
"This makes it just a lot more uniform and a lot more fair to folks, especially low-income Montanans - that you don't just get to access the court if you can pay," Reavis explained. "Everybody gets to access court."
Reavis emphasized it matters in civil cases, which cover family law, eviction, people facing creditors in court and more. After the decision, she and others with the association traveled to 18 courts in eastern Montana to familiarize clerks with the waiver. She added they are planning more outreach this year.
Deschamps said navigating a court case was "daunting." She knows a lot of Montanans are struggling in ways she can relate to.
"There's people that are maybe stuck in bad situations, just because they didn't get the help that they deserve," Deschamps observed. "People are willing to help you, so don't be afraid to ask for help."
In a given year between 2016 and 2021, nearly one quarter of Montana households, about 120,000 families, received at least one form of income-based public assistance, according to a Headwaters Foundation report.
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Recent federal executive orders have left many organizations in Ohio navigating uncertainty, particularly when it comes to funding for essential services.
Food banks, which serve as a critical safety net for families in need, are feeling the strain.
Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, said demand has been surging across the state as economic pressures grow, leaving local organizations struggling to keep up.
"We can do a lot with a little, but we can't do it all," Novotny pointed out. "We do rely and count on our partners in local, state and federal government to be another leg on the stool of what it takes to make sure that when people are in need and facing crisis, they can turn to us for basic help with food."
The strain comes as Gov. Mike DeWine's newly proposed state budget would reduce food bank funding by 23%, cutting it from $32 million in the last cycle to $24.5 million.
While the previous budget included a one-time $7.5 million boost, Novotny warned the reduction comes at a time when food banks are experiencing record-high demand.
Beyond government funding, food banks also face challenges in managing supply and demand. With more Ohio families turning to assistance programs, organizations are being forced to stretch resources even further.
"I just talked to someone yesterday who had a distribution in one of their local communities," Novotny noted. "They generally see 175 to 200 families come to that particular distribution for help. They had 300 families come that they were able to serve and then they had to turn another 65 away."
While organizations like the Ohio Association of Foodbanks remain committed to their mission, they are calling on policymakers to provide clarity on future funding.
Federal programs like Emergency Food Assistance Program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program provide about 25% of the food banks' resources, while state-funded programs like The Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program and the Ohio Food Program contribute another 20%.
Nearly half of the food distributed across Ohio's 88 counties comes from state and federal support, highlighting how crucial government funding is to hunger relief efforts.
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Poverty-fighting groups in Minnesota are joining the wave of officials reminding low-income households to take advantage of the state's Child Tax Credit, now in its second year, adding a new feature could provide additional flexibility.
The state adopted the credit in 2023 on the heels of Congress' temporary expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit, which helped reduce poverty rates. State leaders are trying to produce similar results here, and last year, nearly 225,000 eligible families claimed the credit.
Angela Bellmont, outreach coordinator for the Children's Defense Fund Minnesota, said this time, there is an option to receive advance payments.
"It really provides some predictable income in any area that they need, such as medical expenses or emergencies," Bellmont explained.
A person choosing the option would receive their full 2024 refund with the credit and three monthly payments spread out later this year. The installments would make up 50% of the filer's 2025 Child Tax Credit refund ahead of next year's tax season. Bellmont stressed the advance payments are optional and noted using it could limit benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Given the tax credit is still relatively new, Bellmont emphasized they are trying to make sure people know about it.
"This tax credit is available for all families with qualifying children, regardless if they bring in enough income to pay an income tax," Bellmont outlined. "We want people to file taxes, even if they haven't in the past."
Households meeting eligibility requirements can receive a credit of up to $1,750 per child. If they are interested in the new advance payments option, the Department of Children, Youth and Families has an online tool to help calculate any impact on SNAP benefits. Minnesota also has more than 200 free tax prep sites around the state to help navigate the details.
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Community action agencies in Massachusetts are asking state lawmakers to boost antipoverty programs as federal aid remains in limbo.
Gov. Maura Healy chose not to fund the agencies' line item in her proposed budget, putting critical services for people coping with food and housing insecurity at risk.
Pam Kuechler, president of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, said a loss of funding would affect food pantries families rely on statewide.
"Things have not gotten better for folks and so we'll have to reduce the number of days," Kuechler projected. "We'll probably have to reduce the amount of food that we're able to distribute."
Kuechler said her agency's food pantry in New Bedford helped nearly 14,000 people last year alone. The agencies are requesting $7.5 million for the more than 600,000 people in Massachusetts they serve.
Community action agencies said programs offering fuel assistance, workforce development and free tax preparation to secure tax credits are more vital than ever. Data show roughly 70,000 children in Massachusetts are living in what's considered "deep poverty," or 50% below the poverty level.
Sen. Sal DiDomenico, D-Everett, said with federal aid now uncertain, it is important the agencies get the funding they need.
"This is not just money. People can feel it," DiDomenico emphasized. "This is just something that we have to get done and we have to make sure that we protect."
DiDomenico noted the Legislature's Special Commission on Poverty will release an omnibus bill this session with recommendations on how to address the state's historic wealth gap and better support programs proved to be effective in reducing poverty. He added it includes direct cash assistance, which helps families survive.
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