Rep. Netzley still appeared to not get it. At the hearing, a mother from Bethany House, a homeless shelter, testified about how being sanctioned had made her family end up homeless. Mothers with a small baby and little girl, all of whom are homeless, were in clear view of the legislators. The little girl sat next to her mother, quietly holding her doll. Even though speaker after speaker testified about the impact of sanctions on children, and the legislators viewed sanctioned children right before their eyes, they appeared unmoved.
Children are the victims, bearing the brunt of inhumane policies of our country.
When legislators can cut off all support for poor families in Ohio, even hurting children, by sanctions and time limits, the Ohio Empowerment Coalition clearly has its work laid out for us. You must apply at your county welfare department by June 10, 1999. It would allow two years of college or 2080 hours. It would allow for additional college time if the participant was making progress towards a degree. It would allow for clinical or a work study to count towards the work requirement.