Homeless families face strict new rules (brought to you by Republican Gov. Deval Patrick)

[joeunderdog]

Less than two years after vowing to end homelessness in Massachusetts, the Patrick administration has proposed new regulations that it acknowledges could force hundreds of homeless families back on the street.

The regulations, scheduled to take effect April 1, would deny shelter to families who in the last three years had been evicted from or had abandoned public or subsidized housing without good cause, and to those who fail to meet a new 30-hour per week work requirement and save 30 percent of their income.

snip

"It is certainly not our intent to be punitive, and we understand the difficulties families are facing," Kehoe said. "But we are responsible for transforming the system, and particularly at a challenging time, it is absolutely critical that all stake holders need to work together to make sure that families have the greatest chance of moving out of shelter and poverty."

snip

By reducing those eligible for shelter, Kehoe said the new regulations would save the state $520,000 this fiscal year and more than $11 million in fiscal 2010. "Given our limited resources, we wanted to encourage people to find housing or stay where they are, rather than encouraging them to come into the system," she said.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/17/homeless_families_face_strict_new_rules/

What's next: submit a resume?

Patrick is a DINO and it's clearer with each day that passes. He shows no remorse for his cuts to services and employees ("My Gramma told me we should embrace challenges.") All of his commissioners share his vision that anything other than a stripped-naked, bare bones service system is too much of a burden for the taxpayers. The cuts that he is currently carrying out have been in his plans from the start of his term and the economic downturn is only a convenient backdrop.

[Greyhound]

1. "Not everybody's from Boston, John"

I see nothing has changed in the land the Puritans stole.

[sandnsea]

2. You do have to submit an application

already, which is much more thorough than a resume.

I'm a little confused how people are going to work 30 hours a week for hours on top of work requirements they might be receiving for other benefits, and where the hell they're going to get any money to save, let alone 30%.

This is ridiculous and a disgusting way to make cuts.

[joeunderdog]

3. Welfare application is 17 pages and you need supporting documentation.

That was Twit Romney's gift to the poor.

[sandnsea]

8. That's fairly common

I just got done copying tax returns, checking account statements, prescriptions, profit & loss statements, etc., to get my health insurance subsidy. It's not as bad as welfare, but it isn't unique to any given state.

[4 t 4]

4. OMG it's all about saving

the state money. That is so clear in the statements that are made.

[stillcool]

5. More homeless shelters would be great...

who's going to fund them? You going to pay more taxes so that no more jobs or cut, and there are more shelters? Should there a time limit as to how long a family can stay, so other families might find shelter for a while? What would you do?

[tkmorris]

9. I would back a tax increase to help the homeless

Wouldn't you?

[stillcool]

10. Sure..and I would pay more for tolls...

but that doesn't mean it's likely to happen, does it?

[Last Stand]

11. If taxes continue to be villified, Ronald Reagan will never stop laughing.

Taxes are an investment in the Commonwealth. They are what we pay only if we have succeeded in getting something from our system already. They are good, not bad.

They are the seeds of next year's crop. And since we have been eating the seeds, we are now reaping what we have sown.

[Metta]

6. He's blind to the fact that he inherits part of the suffering he causes.

Happy karma, gov. Hope you wake up before you do more damage.

[lonestarnot]

7. Any place the pugs can create more suffering, that's what they get down in practice, down in spades.