Massachusetts used most of the money saved by Welfare Reform to help low-income families move out of poverty - APRIL FOOLS!

A new report released at the Massachusetts Statehouse on April Fools Day revealed the truth that many of us already knew - the state is spending $1.3 Billion a year less to help low-income families than it did a dozen years ago. The state made these cuts even though law makers promised that they would shift funding from the cuts in the welfare rolls to programs assisting working poor families.

The report by the Home for Little Wanderers and the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center found that the state shifted a small amount of savings into increased child care but areas such as employment services to current and former welfare recipients dropped 21.9% and other supports (aid to elderly and disabled, and SSI) dropped 22.6%.

Where did most of the savings go?  To fund tax cuts for the upper middle class and the wealthy!

While overall poverty rates in the U.S. have fallen since 1995, the poverty rate in Massachusetts remains at about 10% of all people living in the state. 

If you are as outraged as I am, join us in working to invest more in education, training, childcare and affordable housing to help families out of poverty, by signing up for the Voices Advocacy Network at www.LiveWorkThrive.org.

You can find the report called “Following Through on Welfare Reform” at www.massbudget.org

Ruthie Liberman
Vice President of Public Policy
Crittenton Women's Union