The state announced this week it will partner with restaurants to allow food assistance recipients to use their benefits to purchase hot meals.
The program is targeted at seniors, people with disabilities, and people who are homeless who either don’t have a kitchen or struggle to make hot meals for themselves.
Lynn Sutfin is a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“Right now there are more than 180-thousand seniors, more than 134-thousand people with disabilities, and more than 12-hundred people experiencing homelessness,” she said. “All of those individuals will be able to use a bridge card to buy discounted meals.”
The partnership is aimed at both helping Michigan residents get access to a hot meal - and allowing restaurants an opportunity to keep serving food.
“The main purpose is that individuals through no fault of their own might not be able to get a hot meal,” Sutfin said. “This is a way they can do so. They can use their bridge card to buy discounted meals at participating restaurants.”
In a written statement, Governor Whitmer said the partnership quote “will ensure people across the state have the support they need this winter.”