|
|
Article: Clothing vouchers: Welfare 'reform' hurts poor
- Article from:
- Charleston Gazette
- Article date:
- August 28, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1998 Charleston Gazette. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
ONCE more, it looked like welfare "reform" would end up hurting
the poorest children in West Virginia. But now it looks like Gov.
Cecil Underwood will try to undo changes that made thousands of
children ineligible for clothing vouchers.
The state provides the $100 clothing vouchers each year for back-
to-school clothes for the poorest children.
This a warmhearted program, helping families who are so poor that
they can't afford to clothe their children properly. Some can't
afford warm winter clothes. Some can't even afford shoes.
If poor students wear old, outgrown clothes to school, they may be
stigmatized. The voucher program has reduced the dropout rate and
increased attendance.
But at ...