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 drop 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 previous trustee, Sean Coleman, had raised it to 150% to use some unused reserves. To cope, 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 incomes are at 133% of the federal poverty level.
The township covers most of South Bend, and the office provided nearly half a million dollars in assistance by 2022. As of Tuesday, Portage Township also included baby supplies as an area where it could help.
“With rising costs, 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 assistance, stop by the administrator’s office at 133 N. William St., which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:00 a.m. to noon Friday. Or call 574-233-2126. Its website is portage-township.com.
