In an attempt to help struggling restaurants and hungry residents, Michigan announced a program in December 2020 to allow people to use their Bridge Cards to buy discounted meals at restaurants.
The Restaurant Meal Program was pitched as a way to help the vulnerable survive the pandemic winter. But six months later, the program has still yet to launch.
There’s no estimated timeline on when the program could begin, said Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Bob Wheaton.
“We had hoped to get this program underway as soon as possible to help this population put food on the table,” Wheaton said in an email. “The process has taken longer than we would have hoped, but again we anticipate starting the program as soon as we have the go-ahead.”
The program’s being held up because it needs approval from the Food and Nutrition Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wheaton said.
Currently, people with food assistance can only use the money on groceries, not at restaurants.
The program was initially praised because it offered a solution to two problems: Getting food to vulnerable people who had trouble getting hot meals during the pandemic and providing a lifeline revenue source to restaurants – who were struggling because Michigan’s COVID-19 restrictions forced them to close their dining rooms.
“As we head into another Michigan winter, I’ll continue to do everything I can to support our families and small businesses,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in the December news release about the program. “This partnership with our restaurants will ensure people across the state have the support they need this winter.”
Michigan’s second dine-in ban was in effect from Nov. 18 through Jan. 31.
Demand is no longer the dilemma for most restaurants – the problem now is getting enough help to handle the renewed surge in customers. Likewise, winter is over and the pandemic has drastically waned after the rollout of vaccines.
RELATED: Labor shortage poses biggest question for Michigan summer travel as restrictions lift
But the state still plans to launch the Restaurant Meal Program. Whenever it does, it will be available to more than 180,000 seniors, 134,000 residents with disabilities and 1,200 residents experiencing homelessness in Michigan. However, it will only be available at participating restaurants.
So far, just 38 of Michigan’s 16,000-plus eateries – fewer than 1% – have signed up for the program so far, Wheaton said. He declined to share a list of the restaurants that plan to partake, since they haven’t been officially approved yet.
In December’s announcement, Jack’s Restaurant in the Upper Peninsula’s Rapid River was touted as one example of a restaurant proud to take part in the program. But Jack’s Restaurant has since decided against it, a spokesperson for the restaurant told MLive in a message.
“Initially, we hoped customers could use their benefits just like money, but it seems … it’s not that simple,” the representative said in a message. “We have enough challenges with COVID to take on any more!”
The MDHHS plans to unveil more details about the program and how it works once it launches. Click here for more on the program.
RELATED STORIES
Whitmer signs off on $2.2 billion in federal COVID-19 aid for food, rental assistance
Michigan fines more businesses for COVID-19 violations, including 2 from Ohio
8 post-pandemic office concepts from Michigan’s furniture giants
Fast-food restaurants can reopen their Michigan dining rooms – here’s why many haven’t