Community Legal Services reports that the federal stimulus law gives Pennsylvania the opportunity to draw down $360 million in federal aid to low-income families. So far, Pennsylvania has drawn down only $29 million of this money and has only limited plans for further expenditures -- although the September 2010 deadline for expenditures is fast approaching. Pennsylvania should act decisively to create jobs and other programs to help low-income parents – and the state’s economy – with these federal dollars.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created a TANF Emergency Contingency Fund (also called the TANF Emergency Fund). The TANF Emergency Fund provides for 80% federal reimbursement for certain increased state spending through September 2010, a date the Obama administration has proposed to extend. State expenditures can be for any of three purposes: (1) basic assistance for needy families, (2) short-term non-recurrent benefits, and (3) subsidized employment.

Read more about this potential resource for the state to use to assist needy familie on the Community Legal Services Website.