Unchallenged and Unmotivated: An Ethnographic Study of Sanctioned Welfare Reform Recipients in Federally Subsidized Housing
Author: Sandra Edmonds Crewe
Dissertation School: Howard University
Pages: 281
Publication Date: May 1997
Availability:
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Access Number: 8283
Descriptors:
Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Welfare recidivism. Welfare-to-work programs
Abstract:
This doctoral dissertation examines the culture of twelve sanctioned welfare recipients who reside in federally assisted housing across the State of Maryland. The study also explores the self-sufficiency linkages between the Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) and federally assisted housing programs. The findings reveal that the sanctioned welfare recipient is mislabeled as unmotivated. Their reasons for non-participation were complex and often pointed to systematic problems such as lack of transportation, poorly designed training and educational deficits. Their history included a cycle of welfare dependency interrupted by short episodes of work. Although they were ultimately sanctioned for non-participation in the Project Independence program, each had enrolled and completed substantial portions of the program before dropping out. Rather than unmotivated, sanctioned recipients were unchallenged by programs that used a "one size fits all" service delivery approach. Finally, there was little substantive coordination between housing and welfare agencies. Their communication primarily revolved around verification of income and rent for purposes of eligibility with little attention given to the shared goal of self-sufficiency. A key finding was the consultants' overwhelming selection of housing as the most important welfare benefit. This was borne out of their recognition that affordable housing could not be obtained with a meager welfare check. [AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED]
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