Does anybody have an idea of how many NO victims were on welfare?

[TalkingDog]

Given the current tone of blaming the welfare system for the "savagery" and violence in NO on dependence on the welfare system; I want a figure for how many were on welfare and how many were merely subsisting on Fed. minimum wage in the local service industry.

Does anybody have any idea how to come up with a figure? Has anybody ran across one?

Thanks

[Mass]

1. This is a false debate anyway

There were probably no more violence in NO than in any other American city, particularly considering the dire situation these people were. Most reporters said at one time or another that the reports of lootings and violence were largely exagerated because the reporters were there to report.

It is time to stop answering questions that are simply baseless because it gives them credibility.

[Zenlitened]

8. Exactly.

:thumbsup:

[zanne]

17. I second that.

Don't let the attempt to paint these people as less "worthy" be successful. The welfare "talking point" was meant to be inflammatory, to give the self-righteous even more kindling.

[ultraist]

19. So do I. The relevant question is why does NOLA have a 23% poverty rate?

[GOPisEvil]

2. Define that term.

Do you mean people living on ANY public assistance? Or TANF recipients only? Does Food Stamps count?

[wakeme2008]

3. Probably a lot less

than most people think. Being poor does not mean you do not work.

[etherealtruth]

11. Unfortunately being poor ...

...more likely than not, means that you DO work ... work at a low paying labor intensive job, that provides little or no health insurance or other benefits.

[SixStrings]

4. I remember early on in this disaster...

I think it was NBC...Someone asked the question, "why are they still there?", and the reporter said, "Well, there are a lot of welfare recipients still left. The cheques only arrive on the first of the month, so people wanted to wait for their money". I couldn't believe that statement. Bet it was never aired again.

[rodeodance]

5. actually it has been implied a lot -even recently.

[marshall]

9. Living paycheck to paycheck

Actually the argument about waiting for their check makes sense for those who receive public assistance and those who are working at low paying jobs. They live paycheck to paycheck, and the last few days of the month are pretty lean.
I think those who stayed behind did so for a variety of reasons.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. What "savagery" and violence?

The people of New Orleans for the most part behaved quite bravely. Most of the media reports of violence have turned out not to be true. Oh and all that shooting? Most of it came from the Gretna Police. Nice cops over there in good ol' Gretna.

[Tesla]

I think they have it directly deposited like SS now.

No need to wait at home.
That's how they do it here in Oh.

[Mass]

12. Many people on welfare dont have checking accounts -

They receive the checks and cash it.

[marshall]

13. Early reports

I have been mulling over the early reports in Australian and British papers. I think those young backpackers who provided the stories were out of their element and more frightened than a local or even an American would be. Their stories tended to be hyperbolic and were then filtered through their frantic parents to the foreign papers.

[ovidsen]

7. It depends on what you mean by "welfare"

There's food stamps, AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children), the federally funded Section 8 Housing (rent) vouchers, which many people would consider public assistance...

Then there's unemployment benefits, Social Security retirement benefits and SSI (disability payments), all considered insurance because, theoretically, you paid into these programs to protect yourself against losing your job, being too hurt to work, or facing total destitution in old age.

And these are just things I can think of off the top of my head. Answering the question "how many (in NO) were on welfare" depends on how you define welfare, and even then I think it's a loaded question. So what if families were on public assistance? What should we do, starve 'em? PS, I'm not criticizing the intent of the OP.

[H2O Man]

10. There is also

the welfare for the wealthy, which includes tax-write offs andall types of accessing public funds for private enterprise. I suspect that was not the intent of those looking for grounds to document the "welfare status" of the victims of Katrina.

[ovidsen]

14. How true

You've spotlighted the kind of "welfare" where abuse simply begs to be exposed. Thanks.

[underpants]

15. Why didn't they drive their Cadillacs out of there?

[noonwitch]

16. I thought Welfare As We Knew It was gone with the Contract With America?

It is in Michigan. Everyone who is able-bodied has to work in order to receive any type of assistance. I thought federal dollars to states were at stake if a workfare program wasn't instituted.

[ultraist]

18. Time limits and the Work First program

Clinton's welfare reform ended life long benefits. There are serious time limits, I believe 2 years, and work requirements.

Only the disabled are exempt from the work and time limits. Clinton's welfare reform, is in part, to blame for the increasing poverty rate. As many were cut from the rolls, the subsidy they had recieved, that took them slightly over the line of poverty, pushed them right back down into poverty.
Each state varies slightly but all states must adhere to the Federal Guidelines:

http://www.workfirst.wa.gov/participant/facts.htm
WorkFirst - WorkFirst is the Washington state program that provides temporary help for needy families. Under WorkFirst, you are expected to look for a job so you can eventually support yourself and your family without state welfare. Services are available to help you get a job, keep a job, and build a better life for your family.

Time Limit - When WorkFirst started on August 1, 1997, the state limited getting cash welfare grants to no more than 60 months in a person's lifetime. New rules about time limits allow some WorkFirst clients to keep getting benefits past 60 months. See the Time Limits Question and Answer page for more information.