Asks the Governor to Work with the Legislature to Fully Fund the Program

State Treasurer Larry Pack released the following statement regarding the abrupt closure of the School Clothing Allowance Program under the West Virginia Department of Human Services. 

“It is outrageous and unacceptable that, as we celebrate millions of dollars in surpluses, we claim we lack the proper funding for programs that protect our most vulnerable children. Providing for these needy children is a fundamental duty of government. With rising costs, we must do more to ensure that needy families have the resources required to give their children a real chance at success,” Treasurer Pack said.

“The Governor should collaborate openly with the Legislature and have a transparent, formal discussion about the true cost of this program and how we will fund assistance in the future. Identifying a problem without outlining any clear solutions helps no one. By working together, we can better serve the people of our state.”

The West Virginia School Clothing Allowance Program, which provides families with a $200 voucher to buy clothing before the school year starts, closed after just one week because available Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds allegedly ran out. This year, over 52,000 children applied for assistance. The program was officially set to run until August 15 or until funds were exhausted.

Earlier this year, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced TANF faces a $40 million deficit due to COVID-era spending by the state Department of Human Services. State lawmakers authorized $177 million in TANF funding for this current fiscal year.

In 2025, more than 57,000 children in West Virginia received school clothing assistance.