With politics polarized on many important issues in our country, it comes as no surprise that welfare and consequently welfare reform have been under rhetorical crossfire for quite some time. There are some who believe that welfare makes our citizens dependent on government aid and a tax burden on the rest of the population. To combat this ideology, The Michigan Department of Human Services is conducting a series to demonstrate that welfare is both effective and necessary to maintain stability in Michigan:
For those who are skeptical of government assistance programs, the state of Michigan wants you to know something: Welfare works.
And in times like these, social safety net programs such as food stamps, Medicaid, child care and unemployment benefits aren’t just effective, they’re in huge demand, the state says.
“There is an unprecedented need for these programs,” said Ismael Ahmed, director of the state Department of Human Services. “These days, people seeking assistance could be your neighbor, a friend or a family member. A lot of people don’t realize how close they are to needing help.”
To dispel some of the misinformation about assistance programs — for example, that they are a waste of taxpayer dollars and that those who receive benefits abuse the system or live mainly in urban areas — the state has launched an educational campaign entitled “Welfare 101: Busting myths about welfare.”
“Those myths have caused a stigma that may prevent some people who truly need help, especially families with young children and the elderly, to come forward,” Ahmed said. “We want to put an end to that because the safety net helps families get back on their feet.”
Among the arguments cited includes evidence on making sure welfare fraud does not go unnoticed:
- According to DHS Director Ishmael Ahmed, every $1 that the state investigates towards fraud brings a return of $5 to the program.
- The Government Accountability Office estimates that for every $1 in food stamps, a mere 1 cent was obtained fraudulently.
- In addition to helping to meet a need, every $5 in food assistance generates $9.20 in local economic activity, the state says.
Read the full article here:
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/welfare_needs_rising_sharply.html
Posts
