The Detroit tribune., 1963-02-09
around the
fOeDM .
:+l T


All the women in attendance
agreed that the city is entitled
to check periodically on the way
in which their money-inadequate
though it m ght be---is spent
They were. however, incensed
by the Gestapo tactics employed
by some investigators during the
course of these necessary investi-
ations.
Mrs c. said that IL just showed
how little dignity a person on
Ado is given. I'VE don't mind
investigations-let 'emscome-we
just question how it's done. Don't
try to play God and don't treat
us like dirt merely because we
have no other means of support"
Mrs. d., at this point, added:
Some Of those investigators don't
seem to realize that we're humans.
Then, too, some of them are so
wrapped up in their own emotion
al problems and Illustrations that
they really aren't aware that
they are treating us like dogs"
They all agreed that there
were some women who constant
ly violate the directives of the
Aid to Dependent Children pro-
gram, but il took Mrs. W..
mother OF six. 10 make known the
plight Of the yiolators. We're
human" she said. heatedly, .and
just like our children, we need
love and security-something no
amount OF Ado check is going 10
give US. First they ask us if we
have a boyfriend-hoping we will
find someone who wishes TO marry
us, then they turn around and
condemn US for trying to cultivate
a relationship that could result
in a marriage
One other woman stated that
the investigators always seem to
pick the mothers, who are trying
hard to make a home for their
children. The ones who violate
policy. they said, are too smart
TO get caught playing hanky-
panky in the wee small hours of
the morning.
What, then, is the solution 10
the indecency of unwritten 'lega-
lized" search? There is no cut
and.dried solution to this major
problem. they decided. They did
however. agree that if their case
workers-people that they know,
to a certain extent--were to ac-
company the investigating teams.
il would be so much easier on ev-
eryone involved. But, then what
worker-after grueling eight
hour shifts going to run all
over the city investigating their
cascload at two or three O'clock
in the morning.
Will the city, in its diligent ef-
fort TO see that they aren't cheat
ed out OF the few pennies they
consent 10 give these women,
wait until one or two of them
have been assaulted or slain be-
fore they give this problem the
magnitude of study and altera-
ton il needs?
The generalized problems of
women being supported by Ado
funds are sometimes psychological
and can be just as pressing and
wearing as those Of financial
nature. There are many "unmet
needs" created by % budgetary
cut received by those on Ado
rolls, (2) attitude toward the re-
cipients of Ado, and (3) attitudes
OF the recipients; added TO undue
hardships, because of their finan-
cial situation and status given
them in our society.
Mrs. W. again spoke: It's a
good thing they cut our money
because | was seriously thinking
of saving enough to buy me
gun, so l could shoot the next
investigator that came TO my door
at some outrageous hour of the
morning, and tell the judge I
thought il was a prowler."
The investigators, i believe,
think it's q good thing the budget
airy cut WAS made.