The Mathematics of Poverty I

            So having served as Executive Director of a homeless shelter for children and their families for close to two years now, I have learned a lot.  The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that the so called “welfare state” no longer exists.  People continually complain about generational welfare, people who “live off the system,” and people who take advantage of government help.  I will be the first to say that there are a few people who have learned to navigate the system and use it to their advantage—but this is mainly in social security disability and usually not without the help of a very skilled attorney. 

“Welfare” as it is popularly known no longer exists.  The Federal Government offers “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families” or TANF through different state agencies.  In South Carolina, it is known as “Family Independence,” and not only has a 24 month time limit, but also a lifetime limit of 5 years.  Simply put, no family can receive cash assistance for more than 5 years in their lifetime.  Federal mandates require this 5 year lifetime limit, so it is nationwide.  In South Carolina, those receiving Family Independence must complete weekly job search requirements and volunteer 30 hours a week at a local non-profit or other such agency.  This cash assistance is no large sum of money either, typically less than $300 a month per family—ever tried to live on $300 a month?

            I think it is important to point this out because if we are going to help homeless families, we first need to get individuals and communities to understand that the families we seek to help are not looking for a handout or trying to take advantage of the generosity of strangers—they are families in serious need and do not have the resources or support system to become self-sustaining without assistance.

        I would like to spend the next several weeks outlining some of the problems I see facing families in the Upstate of South Carolina and how we might go about helping make those problems more navigable.  My goal today is to help foster the understanding that while there will always be those who are looking to take advantage of charity, there are an increasing number of hard working, well-meaning families who are falling into dire situations that they cannot get out of on their own.  More importantly, the children who grow up in those families have done nothing to put themselves into their dire situation nor can they help themselves get out.  So the next time you hear a political pundit spewing on about “ending the welfare state” remember—generational welfare no longer exists and what has replaced it are desperate families who want work for what they have and perhaps give their children a better life.