Child Support Should Go to Families, Not the Government

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Heartland Alliance: House Bill 4423 passed unanimously out of the Illinois House of Representatives last week and now moves to the Illinois Senate, where legislators have the opportunity to pass it and ensure families living in extreme poverty can meet their basic needs. The bill would increase the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant amount, making it equivalent to 50% of the Federal Poverty Level and ensuring child support paid by non-custodial parents goes to support children receiving TANF.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- House Bill 4423 passed unanimously out of the Illinois House of Representatives last week and now moves to the Illinois Senate, where legislators have the opportunity to pass it and ensure families living in extreme poverty can meet their basic needs. The bill would increase the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant amount, making it equivalent to 50% of the Federal Poverty Level and ensuring child support paid by non-custodial parents goes to support children receiving TANF.

Currently, child support payments from noncustodial parents whose children receive TANF largely go to the government, rather than to the custodial parent and their children. In Illinois, over half of child support money collected for children receiving TANF goes to the federal government and a portion stays with the state to fund other services.

Maxica Williams, a TANF recipient and grassroots leader with Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Research Advisory Board member shared, "Each month you must decide what bills get paid and what will fall through the cracks. The price of everything continues to go up and the grant amount just isn't enough."

Illinois House Sponsor Leader Marcus Evans during the floor debate said, "Many times families are living on the edge. These additional dollars would go a long way. This bill helps the most impoverished families here in Illinois."

Deputy Republican Leader Tom Demmer furthered the case for supporting the legislation, by stating, "This bill would allow those child support monies specifically earmarked for children to go to the child who is entitled to it."

Advocates will continue to encourage members of the General Assembly to pass HB4423 and make these important program improvements to benefit Illinois families experiencing poverty. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Heartland Alliance are leading advocacy on this important legislation, which is sponsored by Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr., Speaker of the House Emanuel Chris Welch, Senator Adriane Johnson, Senator Celina Villanueva, among others. The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn April 8.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is the only non-profit in Illinois dedicated to advocating for public policies that curb and can ultimately end homelessness. The organization leads strategic campaigns, community outreach, and public policy initiatives that target the lack of affordable housing in metropolitan Chicago and across Illinois.

Heartland Alliance, one of the world's leading anti-poverty and human rights organizations, works in communities in the U.S. and abroad to serve people experiencing homelessness, living in poverty, or seeking safety. The organization provides a comprehensive array of services and advocates for policy change in the areas of safety and justice, health and healing, and economic opportunity.

Media Contact

Valentina Perez Botero, Heartland Alliance, 3128487384, [email protected]

Vanessa Alvarez, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, 7739063403, [email protected]

SOURCE Heartland Alliance