1. Understanding More About Poverty, Monica Bogucki, B. S. W. , J. D
Understanding More About Poverty, Monica Bogucki, B.S.W., J.D copyright Monica Bogucki

2. Where do you apply for government benefits?
Most program are administered by
County Welfare Departments
County Departments of Economic Assistance
County Social Service Agencies

3. What is a Combined Application Form?
Combined Application Form part 1 (CAF 1)
Establishes the application date
Combined Application Form part 2 (CAF 2)
Determines your eligibility for a number of programs such as
MFIP-S, medical assistance, food stamps. Minnesota Supplemental Aid
General Assistance

4. Web site to online CAF application
All states-links
Minnesota
Minn. Stat (2007) Minnesota Health Care applications must be made available at provider offices, local human services agencies, school districts, publis and private elementary schools in which 25% or more receive free/reduced lunch, community health offices, WIC program sites, Head Start sites, Public Housing council, child care centers, early childhood education, preschool program, legal aid offices, libraries,
Must be made available in other languages,
Human services agencies, hospitals and health care community clinics receiving state funds must provide dire assistance in filing out the form.
Minn. Stat. sec. 54 of the Omnibus Bill Minnesota Food Support programs must provide simplified forms, and allow individuals to do face to face interview without taking time off from work.

5. MFIP Hypothetical Exercise
MARIE

6. General Assistance Hypothetical Exercises
JEREMY
ELLEN

7. Definitions of Poverty
➡ near poverty
➡ extreme poverty

8. ✧ The extreme poverty line is $8,800.00 for a family of 3
Facts about Poverty
✧ For a family of 3, the federal poverty line is an annual household income of $17,600.00
✧ The extreme poverty line is $8, for a family of 3
Extreme poverty is defined as ½ of the federal poverty guideline million Americans live in extreme poverty of those 12.9 million are children

9. The Face of Childhood Poverty
✧ 20% of children under age six live in poverty
✧ 43% of all children under age six were LIVING IN OR NEAR POVERTY
✧ In Minnesota, 10% of all children live in poverty
✧ In the US, 17% of all children live in poverty
✧10% of American children lived in EXTREME poverty
Children’s Defense Fund; (National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University)

10. Wilder Research Center
Homelessness
Wilder Research Center
2006 Research Report
At least 9,300 people were precariously housed in Minnesota
28% of the homeless adults are working full or part-time
Average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the Twin Cities area is $ 707 and $858 for a two bedroom
Any adult whose primary nighttime
residence is a supervised, public or
privately-operated temporary
living accommodation, including
emergency shelters, transitional
housing, and battered women’s
shelters; or whose nighttime
residence is not meant for human
habitation, such as under bridges or
in cars. This is based on a definition
by the U.S. Congress.
By law, this definition is expanded
for youth age 17 or younger to
include those who stay temporarily
in other people’s homes, with or
without their parents, because they
have nowhere else to live.
What do we mean by
“homeless”

11. 106 people died while homeless in Minn. (2007)
The age range from infant to 82 years old-2003
73 people died while homeless in Minnesota in 1999
The ages range from 5 weeks to 84 years old.
Simpson Shelter web page,

12. continued 85 people died while homeless in Minnesota in 2001
The ages range from 3 months to 70 years old

13. Who are the homeless? 25-40% work 37% are families with children
The average age of a homeless person in the United States is NINE YEARS OLD
In Minnesota, 84%
25-30% have mental health impairments
30% are veterans
50% homeless women and children have experienced domestic violence
Many are unaccompanied minors
National Coalition for the Homeless; National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty

14. Impact of Homelessness on Children
It takes an average of 4-6 months for a child to recover academically from a change in schools.
66% of students who missed 20 or more school
days during first, second and third grade drop out of school
50% of all children in shelter show signs of anxiety and depression
10% of all elementary age school children in Minneapolis experience homelessness each year

15. Multiple Obstacles Families and Children Face While Living in Poverty
CIRCLE OF POVERTY
Homeless Teens
Community and Family Support
Domestic Abuse
Education
Transportation
Consumer
Housing

16. More Obstacles Child Care Health Care-Physical Health Care-Mental
Employment and Training
Personal

17. What Needs to be Done for Children
For Families:
Increase safety nets for families
Affordable and safe housing
Affordable and safe child care
Government benefit programs need to be designed as anti-poverty programs

18. Needs for Parents
Improved income levels through tax credits and increased minimum wage
Reliable Transportation
Improved bus schedules to accommodate parents’ work schedules
Provide programs where parents can purchase reliable transportation
Availability of affordable auto insurance

19. Health Care Needs:
Health insurance for children and parents
Mental Health needs
More affordable mental health services available
Health plans should include increased coverage for mental health services
Decrease Stigma about mental health
Increase public education and awareness of mental health

20. Food and Nutrition
Food stamp levels should be increased to ensure proper nutrition to families and children
Increase the WIC program
Increase funding to school lunch programs

21. Educational Needs:
Special Education needs to be fully funded and available
Need to establish ways that homeless children can continue in the same schools even though the family may have to move several times
School programs should encourage family and community involvement to help provide a support network for students and families

22. Welfare Reform
In 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act passed
Minnesota Family Investment Program
MFIP-S
5 year time limit-starting in July 1997

23. Eligibility for Government Benefit Program
Categorical Eligibility
For example, have a minor child for
MFIP- S
Financial Eligibility
Income
Assets

24. Government Benefit Programs
For Families
MFIP-S-monthly cash assistance program for families
Food Stamps
Medical Assistance

25. Government Benefit Programs
For individual or couples without children
General Assistance
Food Stamps
General Assistance Medical Coverage

26. Government Benefit Programs for Emergencies
MFIP-Emergency Assistance
Emergency General Assistance
Emergency Minnesota Supplemental Assistance

27. What kinds of emergencies do these programs cover?
Mortgage foreclosure
Eviction
Damage deposit
First and last months rent

28. More Emergencies Utility shut-off Homeless shelter Broken furnace Fire
Flood
Other health and safety repairs on the house

29. Disability Programs through Social Security Administration
Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI)
Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI)

30. Low Income Families Who are Working
May qualify for programs such as:
Food stamps
Minnesota Care
Emergency Assistance

31. Client has a right to appeal most unfavorable actions such as:
Appeal Rights
Client has a right to appeal most unfavorable actions such as:
Termination of benefits
Reduction of benefits
Suspension of benefits
Delay in processing benefits
Sanctions

32. Appeal Time lines Vary by program
Must move quickly to get continued benefits pending appeal

33. Clients may have many workers
Financial worker
Job counselor
Child care provider
Child care subsidy worker
School, special education
Court system: Social workers, Probation officers
Child protection workers