' Safety Net'

Poverty rises even as economy turns

Poverty rises even as economy turns

One trend belies the notion that a rising economy lifts all boats: Michigan’s growing poverty rate. Michigan’s economy bottomed out near the end of 2009, and employment and incomes have been creeping upward ever since. But ...

Michigan Radio continues look at welfare reform’s consequences

Michigan Radio continues look at welfare reform’s consequences

How are Michigan families faring after losing welfare cash assistance? Tracy Davenport lost her house and her car — and can’t find work because of a medical condition that causes her to fall down constantly. Learn ...

Welfare reform: Back to the drawing board

Welfare reform: Back to the drawing board

What would you do if you could reform Michigan’s welfare system? That may be a question state leaders are asking today, after Michigan’s massive welfare reform was thrown out in court. Calling it an “end-run around ...

Welfare reforms put care-givers in a wrenching bind

Welfare reforms put care-givers in a wrenching bind

Todd Stafford has an uncontrollable neurological disorder that causes him to beat himself in the head hundreds of times a day. The beatings have made him blind and caused his head to “look like Frankenstein,” he ...

Extra attention keeps frequent fliers from landing in ERs

Extra attention keeps frequent fliers from landing in ERs

A groundbreaking health care clinic in Grand Rapids expects to save millions of dollars a year by targeting a chronic cause of high medical costs: patients for whom the emergency room is a virtual revolving door. ...

$400 prom dress, in shades of gray

$400 prom dress, in shades of gray

The headlines practically write themselves. “Taxpayers on the hook for $400 prom dress.” “$2,000 cheerleading camp on the state tab.” Scrape away the easy sensationalism, and the story is more complex. The Michigan Department of Human ...