Corbett cuts program helping the disabled

[annie]

Pa. cuts funding for Phila. program for the disabled homeless - Philly.com

On May 31, the state's Department of Public Welfare gave Philadelphia's Homeless Advocacy Project one month's notice that it was eliminating $722,000 used to help obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) money for homeless or near-homeless people who had exceeded their five-year limit for welfare benefits.

Many of the people don't have the mental capacity to work. SSI provides disability income and benefits.

The Department of Public Welfare made the cut because the state is "reprioritizing" funding toward programs that emphasize work, DPW spokeswoman Carey Miller said. By taking money from the Homeless Advocacy Project, "we will be able to focus better on job placement and retention," Miller said.

Yes, there are problems with SSI and it, like pretty much any safety net, can get abused but if 99% of the Homeless Advocacy Project's cases are getting approved these are people that genuinely can't work or function in a job and no amount of job placement will change that. This is obviously going to cost the state a lot more than $722,000 in increased demand for other services.

[billy ross]

Maybe these people need to be institutionalized? Keeping them on the streets doesn't seem to make sense to me.

[annie]

[mixiboi]

Well that sucks the state is taking money away from people they know can never work so they are saying die already....


I didn't know we were back in the middle ages again...

[five apples]

Well that sucks the state is taking money away from people they know can never work so they are saying die already....


I didn't know we were back in the middle ages again...

Serves them right, with all that free loading and what not.

[Cammycap]

exceeded their five-year limit for welfare benefits.


why hasn't their social workers helped them apply for SSI, which is the NO TERM limit program for those people ? It takes about 2 years, so being on it for 5 is more than enough time. I don't blame the state, they can't maintain a lifetime of benefits

[mixiboi]

You mean social worker.

[annie]

I don't blame the state, they can't maintain a lifetime of benefits

You realize who pays the social workers at DPW and directs their priorities, right?

[ArcticSplash]

You realize who pays the social workers at DPW and directs their priorities, right?

I think it's probably just going to be better to start bussing these people to the "T". The Corbett-voting population will freak when they see these people on their doorsteps. Keep them in the "T" long enough that they'll have to be picked up by statisticians so it raises the unemployment index in the middle and western counties and makes them look worse.

[CenterCityGuy]

Serves them right, with all that free loading and what not.

Something tells me you are slightly retarded

[2happy4u]

are these the same people living in the halfway houses who turn their checks over to the scumbag landlords, while hiding under the guise of drug treatment? Kick them out of jail, load them up with handouts then place them in a rundown halfway house, The rich landlord gets richer on our tax dollar. Get a note from a doctor or get a job. They have a choice, it's still America.