subject: Subsidized Employment Programme Expiry Leads To Swelling Of Ranks Of The Poor [print this page] Subsidized employment programme expiry leads to swelling of ranks of the poor. Last Thursday 30th September thousands and thousands of workers in the low-income category lost jobs as the employment programme fed by the stimulus plan expired. In 37 states, quarter million Americans had been given temporary jobs because of $5 billion coming in from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families plan, as noted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The states made use of nearly $1 billion to arrange for subsidized employment and the remaining dollars were distributed as cash grants, food plans and help for housing apart from other types of assistance.
Nearly half of the jobs were summer employment for the young and the rest were for those whose parents were at a disadvantage. Each state worked out the details in their own way. Some arranged for the wages of the worker for some months while other states contributed for a part of their salaries.
With the expiry of the programme the adults were informed not to come for work any longer. It will be nearly impossible to find a new post for them at this point of time when the unemployment figure is hovering around 9.6%.
These people have now joined the millions of others hunting desperately for permanent employment said Elizabeth Lower-Basch of Center for Law and Social Policy. It is an advocating organization named CLASP.
The TANF is not the only one - it is one of many others linked with the stimulus programme that expired on 30th September. Still running is a $2 billion child care subsidized programme and another $2.1 billion to give a kick to Head Start for early education of children coming from needy families.
The state representatives and advocacy organization have been lobbying the Congress to grant extension to the jobs programme and similar other measures linked with Recovery Act but Washington has not responded positively. Only few states will continue to keep these programmes operating but only for a couple more months; even then the scope will be cut down drastically.
Earlier Illinois declared that it would continue with the programme with funds from the state for another two months nursing a hope that the Congress would release more funds by then. Illinois State has engaged over 26,000 workers in various organizations apart from the government sector - private as well as non-profit.
