They are bombarded with messages reminding them that their benefits will run out after five years, that they must take jobs working for the city in exchange for any public assistance and that they will get a check only after they search for private-sector work. Center director Adrianne Fleming said the staff talks about whether a person could get assistance from the community, a church, Goodwill or other agencies. And they ask whether a relative could help. Workers will even call an applicant's mother or other relatives. If a parent or sister has been helping and can continue, I don't see any problem with us asking that.
Public assistance demoralizes people.
Fleming said people in need are not turned away, and families often leave the office with a check to help avoid eviction or some other crisis. It is not until Day Five that they are allowed to submit their application, a strategy to ensure that they explore every other alternative. Some of those applying for welfare at Greenwood last week said they knew of others who had stayed away or dropped out of the process because of the hassle. On a practice job application, Benitez said she filled in all the blanks for the first time in her life. I thought before I couldn't write that down since it was just elementary.