For the last, almost 10 years, the federal government has started funding a program that I thought was very neat. It's a program called "Assets for Independence".
This program focuses on helping low-income families with getting out of poverty without simply handing them welfare checks. Instead, the program focuses on helping families or individuals in need with accumulating savings and investing in long-term assets like homes, college fund, or small businesses.
The reason I found this program to be so fascinating is the results demonstrated by these families who benefited from this program.
According to AFI research, "families with assets demonstrate an orientation toward the future, a decrease in marriage dissolution, and improved housing stability. Families engaging in asset building also tend to experience improved health
and well-being, increased civic and community involvement, and decreased rates of transfer of poverty to the next generation".
In essence, this is the program this nation and other nations have been hoping for in decreasing their poverty stricken population! This program seemingly negates all negative aspects of welfare, all criticisms that welfare will not promote positive growth in these individuals or communities, and it demonstrates that assistance can provide hope and change.
However, do you think this is a worthwhile project? Are there other ways of conducting this that may cost less money? Given the fact that I've always been rather soft-hearted when it comes to supporting the poor and underpriviledged, even through welfare, I may not see the negatives in these systems. Do you think there are any in this particular assistance program?
