Majority of States Have Accessed TANF Emergency Funds

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently provided updated information on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) emergency funds, including a list of approved TANF emergency fund applications by category. As of December 8, 2009, 32 states and the District of Columbia have successfully applied for emergency funds. Despite these approvals, states have accessed only $1 billion of the $5 billion available in the fund.