Mich. governor signs 48-month welfare limit

JonnyPistachio

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44416871/ns ... ?gt1=43001

One of my concerns about certain welfare is that is too easy for some to stay on it for extended periods.

This is good to hear so they arent just tossed aside after the 4 years are up:

"State officials say they're working with nonprofit organizations to direct welfare recipients to other services and provide a "soft landing" as they lose benefits. Recipients will be connected with other resources, given housing and job placement assistance for up to three months beyond October and mentored by trained job navigators."

A step in the right direction??

BinauralJam

I think so.

brianlux

Several years ago when I was living in Western NY State I ran out of money and applied for welfare. At that time they had some sort of of work/welfare program which I signed up for. I basically earned the money I was was given by tutoring at a local high school. That not only helped me financially, but gave me work experience that proved to be useful later.

I realize there are people who have limited ability to work for health reasons or whatever, but for those who can work, it makes sense to incorporate some kind of work training while receiving assistance. Those 48 months could be put to good use so people are less likely to end up on the streets when the clock runs out.

Prince Of Dorkness

I received one welfare check in my life.

It was the most humiliating experience I ever went through.

I get it that there are people who abuse the system, but right now there are people whose industries have been sent to Asia, people who are unable to work for many reasons. Unless there is a significant effort along with this to help people off welfare and back into the job market, I'm not sure this is a positive step... it might just be blaming the poor for the misdeeds of the ultra-rich.

usamamasan1

I think it's a great idea. I grew up next to a town called Benton Harbor that used to kill it in the "good ol days". Then the city ended up be a congregation of crime, property values plummeted and everyone took flight to the "Other side of the river". I grew up understanding that this flight took place because there was some easy welfare money in Michigan and this city happened to be near the southern border of the state. People moved here from other states and made lots of babies (to get more welfare). What a shame.

this book was written about it...



anyway, great idea RE: OP post.

cincybearcat

usamamasan1 wrote:

I think it's a great idea. I grew up next to a town called Benton Harbor that used to kill it in the "good ol days". Then the city ended up be a congregation of crime, property values plummeted and everyone took flight to the "Other side of the river". I grew up understanding that this flight took place because there was some easy welfare money in Michigan and this city happened to be near the southern border of the state. People moved here from other states and made lots of babies (to get more welfare). What a shame.

this book was written about it...



anyway, great idea RE: OP post.

Off topic - great brewery in Benton Harbor....but I hated driving through that town to get there.

acoustic guy

brianlux wrote:

Several years ago when I was living in Western NY State I ran out of money and applied for welfare. At that time they had some sort of of work/welfare program which I signed up for. I basically earned the money I was was given by tutoring at a local high school. That not only helped me financially, but gave me work experience that proved to be useful later.

I realize there are people who have limited ability to work for health reasons or whatever, but for those who can work, it makes sense to incorporate some kind of work training while receiving assistance. Those 48 months could be put to good use so people are less likely to end up on the streets when the clock runs out.

Its a great idea. But what if they get fired? What if they dont like the career? How many times do they put them into a field? My fear is that they keep going from job to job to abuse the system. Many people who are able to work and are considered healthy, dont have a good work ethic.

acoustic guy

JonnyPistachio wrote:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44416871/ns/politics/?gt1=43001

One of my concerns about certain welfare is that is too easy for some to stay on it for extended periods.

This is good to hear so they arent just tossed aside after the 4 years are up:

"State officials say they're working with nonprofit organizations to direct welfare recipients to other services and provide a "soft landing" as they lose benefits. Recipients will be connected with other resources, given housing and job placement assistance for up to three months beyond October and mentored by trained job navigators."

A step in the right direction??

"Given Housing". See I have a problem with that. So say I am the owner of a rental property and I rent to someone in need like this. And say the program doesn't work for that individual and they get fired and cant pay the rent after the time runs out for the government to pay. Then what?
I will tell you what.....they don't leave, and me the property owner has to spend months and money to get them thrown out. And if I don't then I end up loosing the property cause I cant afford two mortgages.
It happened to a close friend. It was a section eight family. The state paid for the first year. Second year, payments were later and later and later. He went into bankruptcy. They stopped paying and had so many rights he could not throw them out. Family man, great guy. Its not every case but its does happen.