"The U.S. Conference of Mayors reported a 15% increase in the number of
homeless families requesting shelter this year. It cited lack of affordable
housing as one reason for the increase.
"Welfare benefit cutoffs and reductions are kicking in all across the
country. When they do, the result seems to be the same -- more homeless
families.
"'Almost all of our emergency facilities for women and children are full,
have waiting lists and are turning people away,'' said a Baltimore homeless
shelter director.
"In 10 major cities within the last year, almost half of all families on
welfare became homeless after their benefits were reduced or eliminated."
More Kids Becoming Homeless
BOSTON (AP) -- Volunteers have been wrapping thousands of sweaters, stuffed
animals and Barbie dolls to give to 1,600 children during a holiday bash at
the Bayside Expo Center on Sunday.
The kids will sing carols, eat goodies and ride ponies. The cheer will be
short-lived, however, because after the party, more than half of the children
will go back to homeless shelters.
Every year, children are homeless, but advocates for the poor say the
situation looks especially grim now, with the effects of the national overhaul
of welfare just beginning to be felt.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors reported Wednesday that 15 percent more homeless
families requested shelter this year than last. The mayors cited cuts in
public assistance and the lack of affordable housing as two reasons for the
increase.
In Massachusetts, many welfare recipients stand to lose their cash benefits on
Monday as they come up against the two-year time limit imposed by the state's
strict welfare reform law.
``The wolf may be approaching the door, but it's not there yet,'' said Philip
Mangano, executive director of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance.
``It'll be bad enough soon enough.''
Benefit cutoffs and reductions are beginning to kick in at different times all
across the country. When they do, the result seems to be the same: more
homeless families.
Almost half of welfare recipients in 10 cities became homeless between
September 1997 and September 1998 after their benefits were reduced or
eliminated, according to a survey conducted by Homes for the Homeless, a
research center affiliated with Columbia University in New York City.
In Newark, N.J., shelters flooded with the working poor are closing because
they are financed in large part by programs that don't subsidize people who
work.
``If that's happening now in this great economy, what's going to happen when
welfare reform kicks in?'' said Cybelle Fox, a research associate for Homes
for the Homeless.
A November 1998 study by the National Coalition for the Homeless found half of
homeless families in Atlanta had recently lost welfare benefits. In Los
Angeles, 12 percent of homeless families surveyed said they lost their place
to live because of benefit cuts.
In one Wisconsin county, homelessness increased by 50 percent for children,
but only 1 percent for adult men, a group largely unaffected by welfare
reform.
``Almost all of our transitional facilities for women and children are full,
have waiting lists and are turning people away,'' said Robert Hess, president
of the Center for Poverty Solutions in Baltimore. ``All our emergency shelters
for women and children are full and turning people away.''
Hess is keeping a worried eye on Jan. 1, when Maryland imposes its two-year
welfare cutoff.
In Michigan, mothers who have had their benefits reduced or eliminated can't
find jobs that pay enough for rent, health insurance, food and transportation,
said Richard Anderson, program director for the Traveler's Aid Society of
Detroit.
He thinks the Homes for the Homeless study actually underreports the number of
families who lost their homes because of welfare reform.
Last week, Anderson's group hosted a party similar to the bash scheduled in
Boston. About 1,500 homeless children showed up.
``The party was a success inasmuch as the kids had a place to go,'' Anderson
said. ``Now what are we going to do with these kids the other 364 days?''
