The final TANF regulations and accumulating TANF surpluses present opportunities to spend more money on programs that support struggling families.
Housing is clearly a worthy place to start.
A recent report published by HUD argues that, Ironically, the strong economy is a key factor pushing rent levels to new record highs. Since 1996, the amount of time spent on waiting lists for housing assistance and the number of families on waiting lists have increased substantially. There is significant overlap among families receiving TANF and housing assistance. The severe lack of affordable housing makes the transition from welfare to work exceedingly difficult for families. When a family is spending half of their income on rent, there is little left over for the additional costs associated with working clothing, child care, transportation.