Maryland Poor Sue for Benefits

by Leigh Graham · 2009-05-18 16:00:00 UTC
Topics: show more

and other evening links:

Thompson is one of thousands of Marylanders who have waited longer than the legal limit for assistance approval. As of March, there were about 7,100 overdue medical assistance applications from children and parents, and 4,100 backlogged food assistance requests, according to the most recently available data from human resources.

The bad economy has exacerbated an already overburdened approval process. Assistance offices are being flooded with more needy applicants at a time when the state's dire financial straits prompted a state hiring freeze that until recently deprived the department of the workers necessary to ensure timely approval.

New child welfare programs offer respite care by volunteer families for overburdened parents in crisis. (Note I use the word "parents" and the NYT uses "mothers."  Are there no fathers in crisis?)

Europe's strong social safety net to blame for its anticipated slower recovery than the U.S. Cuz we're clearly close to bouncing back ourselves...!

Next door to Disney World, homelessness is on the rise.

And in Chicago, permanent supportive housing shows health benefits for the homeless!

Leigh Graham
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