Restoring state benefits for our immigrant neighbors
The Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition was formed in January of 2023 by La Colaborativa and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute to restore state-funded food and cash assistance benefits to Massachusetts immigrants. The coalition is made up of more than 80 organizations from across Massachusetts.
In December 2023, the Coalition celebrated a major victory in securing $6M in funding for state-funded SNAP benefits for Massachusetts immigrants. The state issued 4,400 families state SNAP to help put food on the table. But, the state had to end state SNAP benefits in April 2024 due to lack of funding. The Coalition is continuing to work to secure funding in upcoming budgets and passage of state legislation.
Why does Massachusetts need state-funded benefits for immigrants?
1 in 6 Massachusetts residents are foreign born. Massachusetts has the 7th largest foreign born population in the country.
Many legally present immigrants who have lived in the state for years - including immigrants with TPS, pending asylum, DACA/Dreamers, Humanitarian Parole, and victims of violence - don’t qualify for critical cash and nutrition benefits.
In the 1996 Welfare Reform Law, the U.S. Congress cut core benefits to millions of legally present immigrants across the nation.
From 1997 to 2002, the Massachusetts legislature provided state-funded food benefits (SNAP) and cash assistance (TAFDC and EAEDC) to immigrants cut off from federal benefits. Most of those state-funded benefits ended in 2002.
Five states currently provide state-funded benefits - CA, IL, ME, MN & WA.
Families with minor children need temporary cash and food benefits and our most vulnerable elderly and disabled immigrants need access to food benefits. H.135/S.76 will accomplish that!
It’s time to restore benefits to Massachusetts immigrants in need.
Questions? Email Pat Baker, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, at PBaker@mlri.org and Lina Tabar, La Colaborativa, at linat@la-colaborativa.org.
Senator Sal DiDomenico speaking at Feeding Our Neighbors campaign launch event at La Colaborativa’s food pantry in Chelsea on February 15, 2023, joined by MLRI Executive Director Georgia Katsoulomitis, State Rep Judith Garcia, and La Colaborativa Executive Director Gladys Vega, Photo by Marilyn Humphries