Will We Still Be Able to Help California Families?
By Marlene Allen
I work in the West County GAIN office in Los Angeles County. Over the last six, and even two months, the number of people seeking assistance has skyrocketed. We are seeing people who have exhausted their benefits, exhausted severance, exhausted their savings and now they're in a CalWorks, GAIN or GROW office.
I know there is a stereotype of the type of family we serve, but that is not what we are seeing. With the economic downturn we are seeing every type of family in our offices - including people who never expected to be sitting in a welfare office. And, our program is helping actual families who need a push to get back on their feet.
President Obama knows that families are hurting. Los Angeles County is slated to receive millions in federal stimulus money to help 10,000 people find work. But Governor Schwarzenegger is making some really unbelievable proposals. He's proposing to eliminate the entire welfare to work program in California. Poof, gone. Here is the link to the California Budget Project's independent analysis. I'm stunned he would even propose this. What would happen to families here? There are ways to save money in the system, but eliminating it would devastate families in California.
Weigh in. What are you hearing?
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