Thursday, November 12, 2009

Welfare and the Poorest of the Poor. No. 599.




Dissent. Fall 2009
Welfare and the Poorest of the Poor
By Peter Edelman



Since the current recession began, it has become even more obvious that TANF is not responsive to the real level of need. The number of people receiving food stamps, to which there is a statutory right, now exceeds thirty-three million, while the number receiving TANF has remained stuck at around four million. The numbers have increased somewhat in some states in recent months, but even a 25 percent average increase nationwide would bring the total caseload up to something like five million.

Read the rest.

No comments: