Lotta defensive blah-blah-blah there gigi, without one single hint about how you propose to "teach a man to fish". I guess that was an oversight on your part. That's okay..the day's just getting started.
Do you normally have such difficulty differentiating "defensive" from annoyed, fairsheet?
How would I teach a man to fish? By letting them-expecting him- to work someplace, anyplace while still collecting benefits so that he doens't have to choose between benefits and a job that can't pay the rent now, but could lead to skill and advancement that would make him independent.
Or, by giving him the choice and the funding to attend a vocational program that he
has to finish.
Real career counseling...not just these "career centers" full of computers and phones that benefit recipients are expected to make appearances at but left unaided and unsupervised in their work searches.
By drug testing because drugs and alcohol abuse DO affect employability. That's why employers engage in it. Drugs and alcohol are why some people lose their jobs and why some people fall into an inertia and don't look for work.
Following up dirty tests with treatment. Real treatment, not these mickey mouse, go to so many AA meetings by this date nonsense. And ongoing support because addictions never really go away.
Daycare centers open and ready to receive kids at a moment's notice so that parents can accept a job interview on the fly without having to turn it down because there's no one to babysit for the day. And these centers could also provide the care to kids, instead of funding private caregivers if need be. They could also be staffed by social service recipients who would have the opportunity to make some money and be out of the house feeling like they did something in the world today. Or, you could even use private caregivers approved to receive public funding. But many times, it's not having a sitter that prevents a mother from getting an interview if she can't set it up a week ahead of time. The last thing a prospective employer wants to hear is "I don't have a babysitter."
That's another thing......leaving people to stay home. Eventually, again, that inertia and hopelessness can be crippling. They should have to go somewhere and do something everyday. Get out of the house.
During the last governor's race in NY, there was this nutjob.....Palladino I think. He wanted to take all the people receiving public assistance and put them in dormatories and dole out the food and shelter that way. Really awful. Forget that part.
But one idea he had that was good.....He came up with the idea of having people choose apprenticeships from various lines of work. And while they were receiving financial assistance, they would go to these "jobs' and work with people in these fields, learning trades, professions, etc....
I thought that would have been helpful because some people need to find new careers. Young single parents need to find
A career. And just to be out doing and learning is good for the state of mind.
Unfortunately, some people argue against certain things for being intrusive and an assault on the dignity of the person in need. It really is a very fine line to walk. You don't want to make someone compromise their dignity because they're in a bad spot financially. But at the same time, people do need help getting on track, and sometimes, that will involve having someone else come into your life and navigate it with you in certain ways.
