The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-11-05


the work and responsibility of
Key West citizens.
The address delivered by Mrs.
Roberts is reproduced herewith,
in part:
"Mr. President and Members
of the Rotary Club:
"Since the days of the depres-
sion, Florida has become welfare
conscious and has made rapid
strides toward rounding out an
organized welfare program. Like
most other states, Florida law and
tradition place the responsibility
for the care of the INDECENT popu-
lation en- the local governmental
units Prior to 1925 it was as
sumed that local governments
were able to bear this burden. The
collapse of the real estate boom
in 1925, however, created a Sc
rious strain on the ability of local
governments to extend relief be-
cause of the weakened, if not
chaotic, conditions in which it left
city and county finances; also be-
cause of the increased number of
unemployed which resulted from
the sharp decline of real estate
and related activities.
1.-THE nationwide depression
which started in 1929 made the
relief situation even more acute.
In spite of the gravity of condi-
tions, however, relief continued to
be a local problem. Measures to
handle the relief problem on a
statewide basis were not fortheom-
ing until the Federal government
enacted the Relief and Construc-
ton Act of 1882, which made
$500, 900 available for unem-
ployment relief. The appalling
need for relief was clearly demon
strated by the fact that a few
months after RHC funds were
made available to Florida, the
state relief rolls promptly swelled
close to 100000 cases even
though funds were inadequate
RFC funds partially met the re-
lief needs in Florida from Sep
TENDER, 1882, to May, 1888.
, 1.-THE Civil Works Administra-
ton and Federal Emergency Re-
lief met the relief needs of the
state during the next two years,
that is, from June, 1888, TO Aug
ust, 1885. AS the Works Pro-
gress Administration got under
way, the Federal Emergency Re-
lief Administration started taper
ing off its activities until in De-
cember. 1885, all emergency re-
lief was discontinued and the re-
sponsibility for public assistance
was placed with the local govern
ments. Relief cases not employed
by WPA, then became the respon-
sibility of local agencies and the
State Board of Social Welfare.
At this point, the latter organi-
! cation conducted surveys to de-
termine: first. the financial abil-
ity of counties to appropriate adj
ditional funds for public assist
ance; second. to gather data which
would give a picture of the re-
lief situation in each county,
and, third, to determine the num-
Der of eases on relief eligible for
aid to dependent children and old
age assistance.
"0n the basis of the facts avail
able from these studies, the State
Board of Social Welfare approae-
ed the many problems in two
ways. The first was the launch
ing of campaign to get approval
of a constitutional amendment
which would permit state finan-
cial participation in public assist
anee. We ali remember the drive
that was put on a year ago during
Florida's Human Security Week.
The constitutional amendment
was approved by a IL to ma
jority in November. 1896. The
second was to begin a temporary
old age assistance program for
persons 20 years Of age and over.
Since it had been found that the
counties could contribute between
and 6 hundred thousand dol
lars a year. 1t was felt advisable
to urge the 81 counties to assign
these funds 70 the State Board Of
Social Welfare for use in a state
wide temporary old-age assistance
program. This county financed
program began In October. 1885.
and continued until July tst Of
this year. The 1897 State Legis-
lasure appropriated $500 900
for the aged ard blind and $780,
600 for aid 70 dependent children:
said funds 70 be administered By
the State Welfare Beard which
organization wa& created by the
1887 Florida Welfare Act This
move on the part Of the State
Legislature was = very important
step because il meant that TIRE
state bad assumed responsibility
fer Is needy citizens"