Abstract The number of families receiving public cash assistance has decreased since welfare reform and the establishment of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in 1996, with only a few short-lived increases. The early decline was related to caseload exits;...
Abstract The functioning of the U.S. social safety net as a support for low-income families depends on various means-tested programs and a system of both public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Using in-depth interviews (n = 5) and a survey of nonprofit employees...
Abstract Hard economic times often force a greater number of families to turn to public ben- efits and programs for financial help. These larger safety net caseloads are more diverse than those of strong economic times, including families who are brand-new to the...
