Strengthening the Family through Community Service

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Strengthening the Family through Community Service

• Focus on the Future
• Presented by
• Jodie Sue Kelly
• October 2008

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A Short History of Welfare To Work Programs
Job Welfare
Poverty

• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3
• Stage 4

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The Poverty of Welfare

• Family of Three
• Cash 403.00
• Food Stamps 393.00
• Total Monthly income 796.00

Stage One No Job, Living on Public Assistance,
Living in Poverty
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The Last Time Welfare Payments Were Increased
1987

• How much things cost in 1987Yearly Inflation
  Rate USA 3.66Year End Close Dow Jones
  Industrial Average 1938Interest Rates Year End
  Federal Reserve 8.75Average Cost of new house
  92,000.00Average Income per year
  24,350.00Average Price for new car
  10,3055.00 Average Monthly Rent
  395.00 1 gallon of gas
  89 centsUS Postage Stamp
  24 centsDozen
  Eggs
  65 cents
• Loaf of White Bread 55 cents
• 1 LB of Bacon
  1.80Gallon of Milk
  2.28

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TANF was passed in the economic climate of 1997

• Low Inflation and Strong Growth
• Employment grew by 2.7 percent
• Lowest Unemployment rate since 1989
• Higher wages produced 1.9 percent increase in per
  capita income
• Employers couldnt find enough workers.

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TANF was passed within A Strong Economy
Assumption

• Many TANF provisions reflect the assumption that
  anyone who wants to work can find a job.
• Employers were in a tight market and hired
  individuals that historically they would not have
  considered.
• Little help would be needed to move welfare
  recipients into the labor market.
• With on the job experience, welfare recipients
  would be able to move up and move out of poverty.

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TANF Provisions Requirements for Welfare
Assistance

• Standards remain fixed regardless of unemployment
  rates or economic conditions.
• Must do something related to work for 20 or 30
  hours a week or the cash grant can be sanctioned
• Unsubsidized job (unlimited)
• Look for a job (limited to 6 weeks in a year)
• Go to School (limited to 12 months in a lifetime)
• Community Service (unlimited)
• Paid Work Site (limited to 6 months in a lifetime)

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TANF A Work First Philosophy

• Help customers get good paying jobs.
• To a lesser extent, provide academics and skill
  training. Limited to 12 months in a lifetime as
  a main activity.

Stage Two Has a job, may or may not still be
on public aid, still robbing Peter to pay Paul
but making progress.
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The Economics of Working Minimum Wage--40 hours a
week

• Money earned per month 1229
• Cash assistance 0
• Food stamps 393
• Total monthly income 1622.80

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Extras that can lift families above poverty

• Annual Wage 19,474
• Earned Income Tax Credit 4716
• Child Credit (1000 per child) 2000
• Program Incentives 1000
• Economic Stimulus Check? 1800
• Total (first year subsequent years could be
• less) 28,990
• EXTRA FINANCIAL BENEFITS
• PA Tax Forgiveness Program 1300
• Social Security (Depends on
• Survivor Benefits income earned and
• Retirement Benefits quarters worked)
• Social Security Disability Insurance

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That would work but.

• Jobs are hard to come by. Worst economic time
  since 1982.
• Customers dont necessarily have solid work
  habits and attitudes.
• Work habits and attitudes are learned and there
  has to be a safe environment to teach them.

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Challenge of Getting a Job in 2008 (and Beyond)

• Credit crisis is negatively impacting the
  business community.
• Jobless rate in PA is the worst its been in five
  years and will in all probability worsen.
• Layoffs, hiring freezes and few job vacancies are
  the norm.
• Those with the least work experience are likely
  to be the last hired.
• Those with least work experience tend to lose
  their jobs first when there are layoffs.
• There will be an increase in poverty and poorest
  of PA families will be hurt.

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Loss to Pennsylvania

• If Pennsylvania can not get over 50 percent of
  their caseload meeting the requirements, then the
  state could lose 70,000,000 from the federal
  government in state sanctions.

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TANF Provisions Requirements for Welfare
Assistance

• PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
• Must do something related to work for 20 or 30
  hours a week or the cash grant can be sanctioned
• Unsubsidized job (unlimited)
• Look for a job (limited to 6 weeks in a year)
• Go to School (limited to 12 months in a lifetime)
• Community Service (unlimited)
• Paid Work Site (limited to 6 months in a lifetime)

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Solution Community Service and Paid Work
Experience

• Clients can do work for non-profits for up to 20
  hours per week and that protects their cash
  assistance.
• Community service has no time limits.
• Clients need a supported environment to learn
  and practice the skills and attitudes they need
  for unsubsidized employment.
• Ideal model centralized site where in addition
  to work, Work Ready can provide coaching and
  training weekly on work habits and attitudes.
• Community Action programs would all qualify to be
  a community service or paid work experience site
  for clients.

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Sample Tasks for Community Service positions

• Clerical work (reception, computer, typing,
  copying)
• Food sorting, packaging, distribution
• Teachers aide
• Prepare meals, deliver meals
• Day care assistant
• Weatherize homes

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Why Community Service?

• Attack poverty at its root
• Give clients a place to grow and learn
• Teach customers how to be valued employees
• Coach customers on how to move up in jobs and
  make a higher income
• Give parents the opportunity to be role model for
  their children
• Provide a countable activity that at minimum
  maintains a families public assistance grant
• Pre-train before employers involved
• Get free labor for your projects so that you can
  better serve your target population.

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What can you do?

• Think about jobs, tasks or projects in your
  program that clients could do.
• Meet with the Work Ready Supported Employment
  staff to set up work sites for welfare clients
  who cant find a unsubsidized job.
• Contact your local CAO (if you dont have a
  supported work program) and offer to become a
  site for public assistance recipients served
  through EARN.

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Fulfill the Mission of Community Action

• Fight Poverty
• Help people to help themselves in achieving
  self-sufficiency
• Earn it, Keep it, Grow it!