THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603280003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
I applaud Virginia's effort to create the Virginia Initiative for Employment Not Welfare (VIEW).
I'm sure a big factor in the creation of the legislation was to lower welfare costs for Aid to Families with Dependent Children and food stamps, a fact not noted in the legislation. I favor lower costs, but more important is the quality of life of those in need.
The law set up VIEW in order to reduce long-term dependence on welfare. Participants will develop job skills that should result in independent employment. If recipients cannot be placed in an unsubsidized or subsidized job, they shall be required to participate in a six-month community work experience. At the end of the initial six-month work requirement, participants may seek further education and training.
Who will want to hire a participant who plans to quit in six months to go to school? This issue is crucial to the success of VIEW. I am in favor of VIEW participants being allowed to attend school when they begin the program. Education and training should be counted as work activities. If the participants are successful, they continue their education. If not, they are placed in a subsidized/unsubsidized job or community work placement.
One problem with AFDC/food stamps is that participants need to earn $7-$8 per hour to equal their AFDC/food-stamp payments as well as transportation and child-care costs so they can work. This is addressed in the legislation that states the participant's spendable income received from wages and tax credits must be less than the value of AFDC and food stamps received prior to the work placement. But how much more will be earned - enough to pay for quality child care, transportation and a small wardrobe for work.
JANET MARVEL
Norfolk, March 25, 1996 by CNB