Using a 50-cent on the dollar reduction in welfare benefits as clients get their first job is a disincentive to work. Clients are often not making enough money to secure childcare and transportation. Work must pay. Many times the former client is worse off than before due to the new expenses. This is especially true if medical benefits are removed before the new worker can find a job with benefits.
Transportation is another critical area of concern for families transitioning from welfare to work.
This is a positive, important aid to employment. The CAO provides an unlimited ride bus pass for those individuals who do not have a vehicle but only until they get a job. A major problem is the times the busses run and the extent of their routes. This is not a problem if someone is working a first or early second shift job. If they work a third shift, they would have to arrive at work an hour or more before their scheduled start time.