Hilary-- I'm in agreement with your concern, but not sure how to go about
"fixing" it--for it is as you said, very complex. For example, if someone
is receiving Medicaid (financial assistance with medical costs) from a
government agency, it isn't workable to give them money directly---that
can endanger the help they receive (as you must know) but bills CAN be
paid FOR them, so long as they don't get the $$$$. This was true with
"public assistance" when I was in practice, and I sometimes could find a
"benefactor" to pick up the cost of something a client needed, but they
couldn't be given the cash.
This is of course a *societal* problem, that goes 'way beyond PD--we could
only make a small (hopefully significant ) impact in our limited
"constituency". I think the idea of a "revolving fund" which makes small
loans (or pays bills for someone as a "loan") and to which the money can
possibly be returned to then help others, is good. This sort of thing has
worked in other situations. In our town there's a volunteer group that
receives funds from individuals to make small loans for low-income
homeowners whose homes are in need of repairs. They are interest free, and
can be paid back in small increments. It's been working for quite a few
years.
I'm interested in hearing what oideas others may have?
Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 81/70/55
Oxford, Ohio
http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm
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