Welfare reform makes it harder to help those in need, new UD study finds

4 p.m., Oct. 29, 2003--Welfare reform policy changes have intensified economic and social problems for residents of low-income neighborhoods and created increased demands for service delivery according to a just-released University of Delaware Center for Community Research and Service study of 110 small and medium-sized welfare social service agencies operating in the state.

“The Impact of Welfare Reform on Nonprofits and the People They Serve in Delaware,” funded by the Aspen Institute Nonprofit Sector Research Fund, is the result of a year-and-a-half examination of welfare agencies and their clients by the center. Investigators used surveys, focus groups and indepth interviews to examine small and
medium-sized agencies, most with budgets under $1 million.

Karen Curtis, UD associate professor of urban affairs and principal investigator, said the study indicates that while demand for help with basic needs is increasing, agencies that work under “pay-for-performance” contracts are not always able to help clients get the assistance they need.

“We found that surveyed agency staff spend increasing amounts of time on welfare rules that affect their clients, particularly childcare, workfare, sanctions and job searches. Requests for basic needs, emergency assistance and other services have increased since welfare reform was enacted, while documentation and paperwork are now significant administrative burdens,” the report states.

In addition, smaller community-based nonprofits have trouble competing with larger nonprofits and for-profit contractors to provide welfare reform services.

For more information, call Curtis at 831-6854.

Article by Barbara Garrison

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