Hoarding policy, according to advocacy organizations, is immoral. Southern Christian Coalition-affiliated pastors in Tennessee urged Governor Bill Lee to allocate the $700 million in excess TANF monies for the state to benefit low-income families.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, is a program that was created to support low-income families by giving them temporary support for necessities.
Families First, the state’s version of the TANF program, explains it as follows:
To help participating families lay the groundwork for long-term financial security, the program offers them childcare assistance, transportation, temporary financial support, job training, educational opportunities, and other forms of support.
The program has an excess of $700 million, which the Southern Christian Coalition points out should be used to lessen the financial burden on families that are struggling financially, even though some of the money is now being spent.
First Lutheran Church of Nashville pastor Rev. Travis Meier spoke on behalf of the group, saying:
It is morally right to create budgets. In the case of a state managing a budget, they demonstrate how funds are allocated and how to give back to the community. Given that budgets are moral documents, it is reasonable to believe that the Supermajority Legislature and Governor Lee value corporations over our children.
TANF funds, which are designated for children in need of necessities including food, clothing, housing, and other necessities, total more than $700 million at the moment. Five percent of the youngsters in Tennessee are impoverished.
I find it immoral that Governor Lee and the Supermajority would leave all that money on the table rather than using it to improve the lives of our children, given that budgets are supposed to be moral documents. It contradicts Jesus and is immoral.”
