What's new at MLS

We have some exciting college student food security news.  1.      DTA just announced important SNAP policy changes impacting MA college students.  We are THRILLED to share these policy updates with you – details below.…

Free Test Kits The federal website for ordering free COVID test kits announced that it is suspending ordering on Friday. Orders submitted through Sept 1 will still be honored. https://www.covid.gov/tests Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2 because…

Today's (8/29) White House Conference Listening Session for Persons with Lived Expertise - new Zoom registration link: Please see the WH communication below and share this new link directly with community members with lived experience, asking them to register/re-register if…

Happy Friday, indeed the last Friday in August. Make the most of it!   Update on skimming/PIN removal- Eastern MA DTA offices open Saturday AM   Thx to all who were able to join the SNAP Coalition call yesterday to get DTA updates on the ongoing crisis of “skimming”…

Thanks to those of you able to join the Health Care Working Group meeting yesterday & special thanks to our presenters: Abigail Kim from ABH, Jen Honig & Danna Mauch from MAMH, Suzanne Curry from HCFA & Sarah Yousuf from MHLAC. Attached are links to some of the materials with more…

A couple of reminders on the skimming situation below, and a new video from the City of Boston to circulate! Please let me - vnegus@mlri.org - know what you are seeing and hearing in your communities on this - and if you are working with anyone who had their SNAP stolen through…

PLEASE SHARE ASAP with retailers in Eastern MA: English/Spanish flier for retailers on how to re-PIN   About 120,000 SNAP households in Eastern MA were mailed DTA notices to re-PIN their EBT card to protect against stolen SNAP via skimming. If they don't re-PIN by…

Please tune in to a special Coalition meeting next Thursday, 8/25 - especially if you work with communities in Eastern Massachusetts (see map below).    SNAP stolen by skimming - next steps, and special Coalition meeting on Thurs 8/25 @ 10   An organized…

Important health provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed into law on Aug 16, 2022: ·        IRA extends the more generous premium tax subsidies originally enacted by ARPA for 2021 and 2022 for another three years. This will protect…

We have some exciting and positive news to share on multiple levels: the new "SNAP checkbox" MassHealth application, Common App Legislative Victory Lt Governor Forum on food security tomorrow, and SNAP COLA in October! There is NO SNAP Coalition meeting in…