The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the stability of thousands of Montanans. Countless people in Montana are unsure whether they will be able to pay rent from one month to the next, where their next meal will come from, or how many hours of work they will be given at their job each pay period. In addition to many individuals being in crisis, our state is also in a financial crisis. Montana is expected to lose between $200 and $300 million in revenue over the next two years.
Montana No Kid Hungry and HRDC in Bozeman partnered to host a webinar and engage the public in a presentation about how COVID-19 has particularly impacted those in poverty. Two Amplify Montana members shared how the pandemic has affected them, along with ways in which we can make navigating this difficult time easier for those living on a low-income. Tara Jensen of the Montana Budget and Policy Center also joined as a panelist, to explain more about the state’s fiscal crisis, along with how we can responsibly raise revenue as a state and invest in public programs that will strengthen families, raise quality of life, and ultimately have an excellent long-term return on investment.
Listen to the webinar here: KGVM Radio