Myth: Busted

i decided to do something related to what i'm currently studying. i'm tired of hearing people talk about stuff they don't know anything about, including "manipulating the system". With that, i give you some facts to make you think about our priorities as a country. If you are going to talk about "welfare" (which doesn't technically exist) and how the system is being manipulated, please educate yourself first.

Facts about Poverty, "Welfare", and Homelessness:

- 75% of homeless people have a job

- The largest single group "on welfare" is children -- about one in every four children under the age of 18 receives welfare benefits. America has the greatest level of child poverty anywhere in the industrialized world

- Programs under the Department of Social Services are: TANF, Food Stamps, and Medicaid

- In order to apply for benefits from D.S.S. you must have: all of your childrens' (and your own) Birth Certificates, Immunization records, and fill out various packets of paperwork. How many of you have a copy of your birth certificate and immunization records on hand?

- If you have a felony, you cannot recieve benefits

- TANF (Temporary Aid for Needy Families) provides benefits for a maximum of 2 years, starting when you first receive benefits.

- In order to be eligible for TANF, you MUST have a job. If you cannot for some reason have a job (ex. a 77 year old grandmother with 4 kids to raise) you must do volunteer work in place of a job.

- The only way Department of Social Services communicates is by mail. So if you don't have an address, tough shit.

- Welfare accounts for 1% of the federal budget, and about 2% of the state budget.

- The majority of women on welfare are white

- Families living on welfare live FAR below the poverty line. On TANF you recieve the following amount of assistance per month based on the number of kids:
:: 1 kid: $254
:: More than one: $320
:: 4 or more: a little over $400

- Homelessness can be defined as any person that doesn't have a permanent place to return to after being hospitalized, institutionalized, or living somewhere where you're not on the lease. This INCLUDES temporarily staying with family/friends until you move into your own place. IF YOU ARE LIVING THERE, AND NOT ON THE LEASE, THAN YOU ARE CONSIDERED HOMELESS.

- There is not a SINGLE location in the United States where housing is affordable on minimum wage ($6.15/hour).


And no, this is not shit i looked up on the internet. This is REAL shit from social work class. Legit. Educate yourself before you go preaching about something. Thanks.