Illinois has taken steps to prevent 260,000 people from losing government food assistance. That gives the state a year to prepare these individuals for the job market. Under federal law, poor people without kids or significant health problems are cut off from food stamps after 3 months.
But there's an exception. If a state doesn't have enough jobs available, it can get a waiver from the federal government to keep it going. Though there was speculation Gov. Bruce Rauner wouldn't go for that, he did.
"Now we will have one year to get ready."
Diane Doherty is with the Illinois Hunger Coalition. She says early data makes her think we'll be doing better job-wise by the end of 2017. She says that gives Illinois time to make sure the job slots are available, and to make sure training and education are available to people dependent on nutrition assistance.
"I mean … it's an enormous challenge, an enormous task.”
Doherty says to make it happen, Illinois needs a budget that supports human services and higher education.
