Evening star., 1945-01-11
Welfare Board
Ponders Raise
In Family Aid
Present Assistance
Inadequate, Agency
Conference Reports

fare is taking under consideration
the raising of minimum standards
for families receiving public assist
ance.
This was announced by Board
Director Ray l.. Huff at a meeting
last night of civic leaders and rep
resentatives of private welfare
agencies, who made it plain that
they consider the present stand
ards, particularly for larger fam
lilies, inadequate in the face of ris-
ing food and clothing costs.
The meeting, held in the Munich
pal Center Building, was called to
secure opinions on the boards fu-
ture policy in the granting of finan-
cial assistance to eligible District
citizens. Board officials are ex-
pected to present testimony in the
near future to congressional COM
mittees holding hearings on District
appropriations for the coming fiscal
year.
Slight Rises Noted.
Raymond F. Clapp, assistant di-
rector of the board, disclosed that
for the first time since 1912 aid to
dependent children cases as we'll as
general public assistance cases we're
beginning to increase. He presented
graphs showing steady fall in such
cases until the middle of 1914, when
a leveling off occurred and slight
rises were noted.
The District Commissioners dis
closed last month that they had
ordered 10 per cent reduction in
relief allotments and at the same
time had decided against request
ing supplemental appropriations
because of insufficient evidence to
back such a move.
Discussion last night centered
around the boards sample budget
allowance Of $9475 a month for a
family of one adult and three chill
dren under 7 years of age. Mr..
Clapp admitted that the s37 a
month figure for food would afford
only 10 cents a meal per person.
Clothing allowance is $12.
Would Lift Base Figure.
E. j. Hornick, speaking for Col
William o. Tufts, chairman of the
Community Chest Budget Commit
tee, recommended that the base
figure be raised to $123 in line with
the Council of Social Agencies
standard. Mr.. Hornick maintained
there should be no difference in
minimum budgets for either public
or private agencies.
Mr.. Clapp held that the board
feels that larger families can buy
food and serve it more economically
than smaller groups. This conten-
ton met general disagreement
among those present.
Board Chairman Edgar Morris.
who presided at the meeting, pointed
out that because of its very nature
and relative neWsness as a public
function, the grant of money to
persons in need of public assistance
continues to present recurring prob
lens" He also told of difficulties in
securing personnel, which has slowed
down operations of the board.
Mr.. Morris reported that in the
past year the board has been re-
examining its legislative and ad-
ministrative structure, has estab-
hshed a single point of admission
and discharge for all agency serv-
ices and is in the process of ex-
tending the use of this intake to
all services.
Budget Guide Adopted.
Mr.. Huff explained that the board
had adopted a budget guide which
is designed to enable the social
work staff to apply IAN authorized
standard for assistance to the in
dividual needs of each applicant. !"
The family budget figure, which
drew comments from the group, was
taken from this guide.
The group agreed that provisions
should be maintained to add money
for special diets when ordered by
physician. They also expressed
strong support of a policy of grant
ing exceptions to any standard set
up by the board when special prob
lens arise which might necessitate
an increased grant.
Among groups represented at the
meeting were the Council of Social
Agencies, the Federation of Citizens
Association, the American Red Cross
the Medical Chirugical Society, the
Washington Board of Trade, Jewish
Social Service Agencies, and Family
Service Association.