Portage Township sets new income level for assistance
SOUTH BEND — The Portage Township Advisory Board recently adjusted its income requirement for those seeking financial assistance in 2023 to 133% of the federal poverty level. That’s an annual income of $18,000 for one person or nearly $37,000 for a family of four.
Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow, who took office Jan. 1, said this is a decrease from last year’s threshold of 150% of the federal poverty level, but it avoids the original plan to lower it to 100% of that level.
He explained that the prior trustee, Sean Coleman, had raised it to 150% to use up some unspent reserves. Managing to do that, Critchlow said, the plan was to lower it 100%. But Critchlow said he and the advisory board now feel the township can afford to help people whose income is at 133% of the federal poverty level.
The township covers most of South Bend, and the office provided nearly a half million dollars in aid in 2022. As of Tuesday, Portage Township was also including baby supplies as one area where it could help.
“With costs rising, even families who are fully-employed are struggling to pay for the simple household expenses they need to survive,” Critchlow said of the people who come for help.
To seek help, drop in at the trustee’s office, at 133 N. William St., which is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to noon Fridays. Or call 574-233-2126. Its website is portage-township.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Portage Township sets new income level for assistance in South Bend
