In 1995, 5.3 million very low-income renter households including 2.4 million households with earnings as their primary income source either spent more than half of their income on housing or lived in severely substandard housing, but received no government housing assistance. In every state except Alaska , HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment exceeds that state's TANF benefit amount for a family of three. In ten states, the fair market rent is more than twice the TANF benefit amount. Nationally, only one in four families receiving cash assistance also receive any form of housing assistance. In 1999 the New York Coalition for the Homeless reported that, since the implementation of welfare reform, there has been a significant increase in demand for emergency shelter and increased lengths of stays in shelters.
Shelters frequently turn away many needing help.
Caseworkers identified more frequent problems with benefits among their homeless clients, including more denials, sanctions, and reductions or terminations of benefits. The Institute for Urban Research and Development conducted an independent audit of Pasadena California 's homeless population and released a report in September of 1999. According to their report, women with children were represented in larger numbers than ever among people who used cold weather shelters. As families leave welfare, it is critical that their needs are met during their time of assistance. However, the findings in the states show that families leaving welfare do not fare better and are often not accessing government programs for which they are eligible, such as food stamps.