Poor economy, tight housing cited as welfare swells -
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Published on: 2/18/2002
Last Visited: 2/19/2002
Janet Poulin, director of Human Services, said she has already spent more than 85 percent of her budget.And of that money spent, about 84 or 85 percent was for rent assistance.
"We're spending more money at a faster rate and it's primarily going into the rental market," Poulin said.
Dover budgeted $158,409 for public assistance during the fiscal year from July 1, 2001, through June 2002.Poulin said about $135,000 or $136,000 has already been used.About $114,000 of that money went toward rent.
It seems likely that the city will run through its welfare budget, but Poulin does not believe that expenses will rise as high as Rochester officials were warning in their community.The requests typically slow down through this time of year as federal fuel assistance begins to flow, she said.
"Do I expect we're probably going to run over budget?Yes.Do I think it's going to be double?No," Poulin said.
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In Dover, Poulin said she has seen the effects of recent job layoffs when more able-bodied people began seeking help.Dover runs a "workfare" program in which people can work in city departments or nonprofit organizations to offset their public assistance.That program had almost no participants when the economy was running well, but now there are about 10 to 15 people enrolled, Poulin said.
"We're gearing up the program again," she said.
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