Anyone got some facts about Welfare?

[The Blue Knight]

Like average stay on welfare, percentage of the budget it takes, etc. etc. I'm writing a letter to the editor in its defense and I need some facts to back it up.

Thanks in advance.

[shraby]

1. I was wondering what the

figures are about the welfare rolls myself. They haven't published them (I don't think) since Reagan's time. If people are unemployed and the u.e. hasn't been renewed, there is only one hope for them and that's welfare.

[Hamlette]

3. we have never published the welfare rolls

but we do have statistics of exactly how many families recieve cash assistance and how many receive food stamps.

[Hamlette]

2. in my state. . .

the average "welfare" recipient is a 27 year old woman with 1.7 kids and stays on welfare for 13-14 months. Her husband left her with no or insufficient child support. I'm in Utah, you might find other statistics from other states on line. (Another interesting statistic is that the welfare rolls in the US dropped by 40% in the 3 years BEFORE welfare reform (1993-1996). We have no idea why but we think it was a robust job market. No one can stay on welfare anywhere in the US more than 5 years UNLESS they meet hardship criteria. Federal law. (This is only "welfare" by which I mean cash assistance. Food stamps, medicaid and child care do not have a time limit.) That 5 years is a lifetime limit. Many states have a life time limit LESS than 5 years (it's 3 years here, 18 months in Tenn. 2 years in Idaho for example).

All public assistance programs account for a little less than 2% of the federal budget. The vast majority of the money is federal, very little is state. (Medicaid might not be included in that amount, you should be able to find the info on line at the government budget office website or something like that.)

[oscar111]

4. Hmlss die three times normal rate

be sure to add that.

Also, four billion /yr would end hmlessness totatlly. IF bunk beds were crammed into apartments, we could end all hmlssness for 200 million dollars /yr.

Compare that 200 million against Bush's desires for cash for the space station, moon trip, mars trip. His inhumanity is vividly seen then.

PS twelve million hungry in usa, three million hmless. Job shortage, fm DOL figures on Job openings sub'td from unemp no., is six million. Job openings table two top, of JOLT page, DOL site. JS equals six million FORCED to have no income. Point that out. Unemp are not lazy, they are job shortage victims. Job shortage is constant reality here. Nevrending.