Evening star., 1954-06-02
FundsLackinq
For Relief in
Prince Georges
County Heads Told
Of Shorp Increase
In Needy Cases
By J. [. Michoel

/
Needy Prince Georges families
are suffering because relief funds
are insufficient to meet a critical
situation, according to a report
under study today by county
authorities.
The report. submitted to the
County Commissioners yesterday
at Upper Marlboro by officials
Of the Prince Georges Commu-
nifty Chest. indicated that relief
requests have increased sharply
in the last four months and
declared:
I'VE believe" the report of the
Community Chest Family and
Child Welfare Committee said,
that the situation warrants
consideration by the Board of
County Commissioners and that
the State Department of Public
Welfare should be alerted to the
gravity of these events for what
ever action is possible on the
State level"
Mrs. William H. Wood, COM
mittee chairman, signed the re-
port prepared after an investiga-
tion by her group.
Edward Di Bella, executive d.
rector Of the Chests planning
council, said the situation ap-
parently is caused by rising un-
employment and a population
influx which includes all types
of families.
The report made no recon-
mendatons and the commission
ers, without discussion, referred
1t to Mrs. Hazel Dyson, head of
the County Social Service De-
partment. for study.
Supplemental Fund Backed.
Their action followed approval
OF a 5000 supplemental ap-
preparation to the County We'll
fare Board. Miss Virginia Fon-
taine, board director, asked for
81 1888, but told the commission
ers that she could supplement
the $500 with some $7OO re-
naming unexpended in admins
trative funds. The board ap-
proved her suggestion.
The Planning Council report
said that its family and child
welfare committee is concerned
with the adequacy and extent of
assistance given by the County
Welfare Board, County Social
Service Department, Social Serv-
Ice League. and Catholic Char
tiles, the principal county relief
agencies.
"Our investigation" the report
said, indicates that funds avail
able to the Social Service League
and Catholic Charities are in
sufficient to continue to meet the
unusual demands of this past
winter and spring and that civic
and service organizations, church
groups and others are not an
adequate resource to meet the
needs"
Lacks $611 for 10 Cases.
On April 80 there were 10 cases
certified for assistance amount
ing to $611 a month for which
the County Welfare Board could
not provide. the report said. It
added that although these cases
will be accepted either this
month or next there is no re-
source in the meantime which
could meet these needs except
possibly the county's Social Serv-
ice Department because neither
Catholic Charities nor the So
cial Service League have funds
for this purpose.
Pointing out that in the first
four months Of this year the So
cial Service Department aided 81
cases and compared with three
cases in the same period in 1853.
the report said "the great in
crease in assistance this year is
another indication of the critical
situation and demands made
upon all our agencies in the
county.
In the same four months Of
this year the Catholic Charities
assisted 81 cases involving ISL
children as compared with So
cases in the same period last
year. .
The Social Service League in
the same period of 1854 accepted
81 cases involving 301 children.
In the first four months Of 1853
aid was given to 10 cases.
Summarizing cases served by
the four agencies, the report
listed the figure Of 756 in the
first four months of this year as
against 654 in the same period Of
1853 and added that the total
cost this year was $128,455. as
compared with $1l5,83l.
Commenting others who have
given aid, the report said that
the four county agencies have
from time to time called upon
the Salvation Army, Ladies of
Charity. Minute Women, st.
Vincent DePaul Society, Lions
Club, church groups, civic and
service organizations and others
for help in unusual situations.
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