Safety Net Is Fraying for the Very Poor

[groovedaddy]

Government “safety net” programs like Social Security and food stamps have pulled growing numbers of Americans out of poverty since the mid-1990s. But even before the current recession, these programs were providing less help to the most desperately poor, mainly nonworking families with children, according to a new study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a private group in Washington.

The recession is expected to raise poverty rates, economists agree, although the impact is being softened by the federal stimulus package adopted this year, which temporarily expanded measures like food stamps, child tax credits, unemployment benefits and housing and tuition aid.

In view of the gloomy employment report last week, economists are debating whether to increase stimulus funds over all. But in a side argument, poverty experts are also asking whether elements of the package aimed at the most vulnerable Americans should be extended beyond their scheduled expiration in two years or even made permanent.

The new safety-net study found that federal aid programs had helped tens of millions of Americans stay afloat in recent years, especially those with low-end jobs who benefited from rising tax credits.

Going into the recession that began in late 2007, however, “the safety net was already enfeebled for jobless families,” said Arloc Sherman, a senior researcher at the center on budget priorities and author of the new study.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/us/05safetynet.html?th&emc=th

[BobRossi]

1. Don't look now.

But there is no safety net for anyone.

[cutlassmama]

2. how the mighty have fallen n/t

[truedelphi]

3. Our nation, which in the 70's allowed people w/1 damn wage earner

A middle class life style: good schools for the kids, a roof over their head that they OWNED, few worries abt health insurance, two weeks of vacation, etc now requires two pay checks per household.

But over the last ten years, only the availability of CREDIT kept most families afloat.

Now only welfare programs are keeping Americans afloat.

What happens over time as the unemployment runs out in total? When food stamps go bust. Etc?

There is no recovery unless there are jobs.

[Naturyl]

9. What do jobs do for the non-working and disabled?

This is the poverty forum. The poorest of the poor are the non-working.

Jobs aren't relevant to a large portion of us. I wish people would keep that in mind.

[reggie the dog]

4. and the middle class

[kenfrequed]

5. Don't worry though...

We are all in a 'post-partisan' paradigm where moderation, tax cuts, and bank bailouts will save us all!


(Maximum sarchasm intended)

[inna]

6. not just for "the VERY poor". for working people in general,

and especially those who lost their job.

[Wednesdays]

7. K&R

:kick:

[gwashington2650]

8. How tragic

And yet, some people would call America 'the greatest country in the world'.

[Glory89fan]

10. Blame the right-wing bastards for this

With their desire to take from the poor and give to the uber-rich CEOs.

[bobbolink]

11. "Should be extended"... not much hope of that, when they've even taken away our COLAs!

:nuke:

[DeadEyeDyck]

12. that is horrible

nobody should have no more than nobody else.