Tanf Helping Or Hurting Milwaukee Families - 1715 Words

Quinn Casey 11/20/16 Urban Politics Professor Miller City Project Research TANF: Helping or Hurting Milwaukee Families? Poverty has been a problem in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for years. The introduction of TANF seemed to be a hopeful new start for families in need, but what has TANF really instituted and accomplished? After years of a system of welfare â€Å"recipients† gaining cash assistance from the government, the new system was meant to inspire welfare â€Å"participants† to actively work in order to earn their cash assistance. While TANF has been implemented across the country, it’s effect on Milwaukee has yet to show any great significance. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families is simply a reformation of the welfare system with stringent work requirements, yet lacking the employment opportunities and resources necessary to accomplish its broad range of goals, ultimately to the disadvantage of those dependent on it. America had seen very little welfare reform for almost 60 years prior to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) in 1996. This ended the previous welfare system, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and created the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. Instead of simple cash assistance, the TANF block grant requires specific work hours in order to receive money. Under this system, each state is responsible for its own implementation of welfare programs. Wisconsin’s system is called â€Å"Wisconsin