Thursday, March 26, 2009

Misconceptions of Poverty

The Seattle Times posted these two articles on their website today:

States consider drug tests for welfare recipients
"Lawmakers in at least eight states want recipients of food stamps, unemployment benefits or welfare to submit to random drug testing...Those in favor of the drug tests say they are motivated out of a concern for their constituents' health and ability to put themselves on more solid financial footing once the economy rebounds. But proponents concede they also want to send a message: you don't get something for nothing."

Seattle Pacific students spend 5 days on streets to feel pain of homeless
"Google the words "spring break" and up pop images of bikinis, beaches, more bikinis, and margaritas...That couldn't be further from the experience this week of 18 Seattle Pacific University students. They chose to spend their spring break on the streets of Seattle living as if they were homeless, as part of the school's experiential "urban plunge" program."

And from the NYTimes:

Financial Safety Net of Nonprofit Organizations Is Fraying, Survey Finds
"'It’s very clear how fragile financially many of these organizations are, and especially the ones on the front lines, the safety net or lifeline organizations,' said Clara Miller, chief executive of the fund...More than half the respondents said they would like help communicating their financial difficulties to their boards and donors, highlighting the growing belief in the nonprofit world that government and the public do not understand the role it plays in American society."

It's a sad state of affairs...

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