GWSS PRACTICUM: IN THE FIELD: October 2010

http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/poverty/welfare-to-work.aspx

Department of Human Services Bridge Card poster

Record number of people in Genesee County signing up for welfare. Among them are people who wouldnt traditionally need help.

FLINT (WJRT) -- (09/01/10) -- A growing number of people need state assistance, and a new initiative in Genesee County is trying to bust myths about welfare.

According to the Department of Human Services, a record number of people need help with money, food, clothes and shelter. The DHS says many of those needing help are people they wouldn't traditionally see.
"People who have worked all their lives that are now asking for help. Traditionally, it was more in the urban areas that were coming in for assistance," said Genesee County DHS Director Sheryl Thompson. "Now we're seeing it all over the suburbs. People who really have to humble themselves because they didn't want to come for help."
According to Thompson, 109,000 people are on the state's food assistance program in Genesee County - nearly 1 in 4 residents. That number is up from 80,000 a year ago.
In an effort to reach out to people who need help but are afraid to ask for it, the state is trying to bust the myths about welfare.
Thompson says they are handing out more flyers and posters throughout the county to better educate people and break the myth that welfare is a drain on the system.
"That's helping people to keep jobs. That's helping people, grocery stores stay open," Thompson said. "In turn, they're going to spend money, and we're just trying to let people know it's meant to help."

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