Issue Research: Welfare Reform

The Great Society started as a way to help the poor, but over the years it turned into a vehicle to make several generations dependent on the government. To get the poor back in the mainstream, this state and country embarked on serious welfare reform. Many say it has been very successful, while others say that the gap between the rich and the poor is growing at an unprecedented rate. Check out these links to get more information and feel free to suggest others!

• Administration For Children and Families - www.acf.dhhs.gov
  "Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services." The ACF site contains links to current legislation involving welfare reform, articles on welfare, and other information dealing with welfare.
• American Public Human Services Association - www.aphsa.org
  "APHSA educates members of Congress, the media, and the broader public on what is happening in the states around welfare, child welfare, health care reform, and other issues involving families and the elderly."
• Bread for the World - www.bread.org
  A "nationwide Christian movement which seeks justice for the world's hungry people by lobbying our nation's decision makers."
• Child Welfare League of America - www.cwla.org
  "The nation's oldest and largest organization devoted entirely to the well-being of America's vulnerable children and their families." This site provides a publication list, consultation services, and more information related to child welfare.
• Commission on Homelessness & Poverty - www.abanet.org/homeless
  "A 13-member Commission of attorneys and lay people created in 1991 and devoted to fostering the development of legal pro bono homeless programs and to educating the profession and public to the legal problems of the very poor. The Commission works with the ABA and through its many entities to develop policy and resources that will enhance pro bono efforts." Online at the American Bar Association.
• Economic Success Clearinghouse - www.financeproject.org/irc/win.asp
  "Clearinghouse for information, policy analysis and technical assistance on welfare reform." It provides explanations of federal and state legislation regarding welfare, as well as information on analysis projects, a calendar of welfare related events, and other general information.
• Food Research and Action Center - www.frac.org
  "A leading national organization working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States."
• Habitat for Humanity International - www.habitat.org
  An ecumenical Christian housing ministry seeking to eliminate poverty housing. Works in partnership with people in need to build and sell housing at no profit, through no-interest loans. More than 1,500 affiliates worldwide; at work in 53 countries.
• The Heritage Foundation - www.heritage.org/research/welfare
  
• HomeAid - www.HomeAid.org
  "HomeAid's mission is to build or renovate shelters for transitionally homeless men, women and children."
• Housing Assistance Council - www.ruralhome.org
  "A nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) has been helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America for 26 years. HAC emphasizes local solutions, empowerment of the poor, reduced dependence and self-help strategies."
• Information about Homelessness - www.iugm.org/homeless.html
  Gives information on ways to help the homeless, links to Internet resources on homelessness, and more information gathered by the International Union of Gospel Missions.
• Institute for Food and Development Policy - www.foodfirst.org
  "Research and education regarding the social, economic, and environmental causes of hunger and poverty."
• Low Income Housing Coalition - www.nlihc.org
  "Established in 1974, the National Low Income Housing Coalition/LIHIS is the only national organization dedicated solely to ending America's affordable housing crisis. The NLIHC is committed to educating, organizing, and advocating to ensure decent, affordable housing within healthy neighborhoods for everyone."
• Moving Ideas - www.movingideas.org
  "Seeks to improve the economic conditions of low-income families with children and secure access for the poor to our civil justice system."
• National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty - www.nlchp.org
  Mission is to "advocate effectively to protect the rights of homeless people and to implement solutions to end homelessness in America. To achieve its mission, The Law Center pursues three main strategies: impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education."
• National Housing Institute - www.nhi.org
  "An independent, nonprofit organization that examines the issues causing the crisis in housing and community in America."
• National Neighborhood Coalition - www.neighborhoodcoalition.org
  National organizations that work with inner-city groups. Serves as information and educational clearinghouse on national policies and federal programs that affect low and moderate income inner-city neighborhoods.
• NETWORK: National Catholic Social Justice Lobby - www.networklobby.org
  "A membership organization which lobbies, educates, and organizes on the federal level from a faith-based perspective promoting economic justice for people who are poor and marginalized."
• The Department of Health and Human Services - aspe.os.dhhs.gov
  
• Research Forum at the National Center for Children in Poverty - www.researchforum.org
  "An initiative that encourages collaborative research and informed policy on welfare reform and child well-being. Our clearinghouse features an online database with up-to-date summaries of 40 welfare research projects."
• Supreme Court Decisions Search - supct.law.cornell.edu/syllabi?welfare
  
• US Census Income and Poverty - www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html
  Gives access to poverty census figures for the USA.
• The Urban Institute - www.urban.org
  
• World Hunger Year - www.worldhungeryear.org
  "Our mission is to walk for just policies creating a more secure world and to support innovative programs creating sustainable livelihoods for all."