Thread: L.A. County may divert funds toward welfare clients

L.A. County may divert funds toward welfare clients
Officials are considering using $6 million meant to fight child abuse for welfare and food stamp recipients, as the number of people applying for aid grows as a result of the recession.
By Garrett Therolf
January 22, 2009
Scrambling to cope with a surge in welfare applications, Los Angeles County officials are considering a budget maneuver that would prop up some key support services by tapping a pot of money meant to fight child abuse and neglect.

Officials think they can still reduce the recession's effect on the incidence of child abuse if they direct the $6 million toward welfare clients with programs such as mental health counseling and job training assistance.


"This downturn is more severe than any other in recent years, and family and community stressors have increased with potential repercussions difficult to predict," Department of Children and Family Services Director Trish Ploehn wrote in her proposal to the Board of Supervisors. They are expected to consider the matter next month.

The number of people applying for welfare has surged dramatically since the beginning of the recession, with applications for welfare benefits and food stamps running at a rate of 15,000 and 45,000 per month respectively.

The $6 million will come from a $17-million fund that will be given to the county by state and federal officials as an incentive to reduce the number of children in foster care. That number has been shrinking, from about 52,000 in 1997 to 16,500 today. As a result, the agency will still have $11 million to spend on child abuse programs next fiscal year.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 9014.story

If they would purge all the illeagles off their wellfare seeing as by law they are not supposed to get it anyway they would solve the problem and help with californias deficit.

Originally Posted by Rebelrouser

If they would purge all the illeagles off their wellfare seeing as by law they are not supposed to get it anyway they would solve the problem and help with californias deficit.

BEFORE the recession, 25% of LA County's welfare rolls were children of illegal immigrants.

I just want Cali to go bankrupt aleady!! That's the ONLY thing that could possible wake up the legal residents of Cali. It's just a shame they have to lose everything in order for them to see it.

Originally Posted by jshhmr

I just want Cali to go bankrupt aleady!! That's the ONLY thing that could possible wake up the legal residents of Cali. It's just a shame they have to lose everything in order for them to see it.

Even then, I am afraid the majority would not see the truth.