And, we think it will take us down the same road as the American welfare proposal that employable persons be eligible for assistance for a maximum of two years after which they are on their own - no matter what their circumstances may be. Experience with the Poor Laws showed us that when family ties are positive, members will support each other financially and emotionally as well. And we know this to be the case even today. The Poor Laws also showed us the weaknesses of family responsibility. Not all families are able to contribute to help their members.
Poor people tend to come from poor families.
Not all families have positive relationships among their members. Not all families have members who live in close proximity to each other. And, contributing to the financial situation of a relative often undermine's the financial security of those contributing. Family responsibility as a condition of eligibility did not work in the nineteenth century even with the extended family living in an agrarian society being the typical family unit. Third, emphasizing partnerships with local community organizations - that is, dumping your responsibilities onto churches and volunteer groups, is also a Poor Law practice.