From time to time the Board of Directors of Tacoma Community House will take positions regarding pending legislation that effects the lives of the people we serve. Funds for this program were included in the 2000-2002 state budget. Following is an editorial written by TCH Executive Director, Don Rennegarbe, as part of the advocacy effort regarding this issue. This month marks the halfway point of the first five years of welfare reform. That's an important time because poor families with children in our state face a five-year lifetime limit on eligibility for cash assistance.
More people are working, welfare caseloads are down and the state is spending less money.
These are important facts. Tacoma Community House has been working with WorkFirst families since the inception of the program. Many people have found employment because of this new effort. But the early success of the program was based on the employment of welfare recipients who were prepared to go to work. Today, that is not the case.