What was the nature and extent of social change?

Rich and Poor

OBRA finance cuts mainly targeted federal spending for the poorest

OBRA also altered the Aid to Families with DEpendent Children programme - fewer eligible and many payments capped

The effect of Reagan's policies on welfare provision

Workfare: 

• Claiming benefit undersirable
• 'Welfare to workfare'
• One working parent to pay benefit - some less than minimum wage
• Childcare impossible to find
• States required claimant to be looking for work

Social housing:

• 1985 3.7 million families qualified for low income home more than 1970 - none available
• No federal funding for low cost homes
• 1978 spent $32.2 billion to $9.2 billion 1988
• Rise in homeless

Homelessness:

• 1987 Congress passed bill giving help to projects for homeless
• 1984 federal funding available was $300 million 1988 it was $1.6 billion
• 1987 McKinney Act set up Federal Emergency Management Food and Shelter Program to be run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
• FEMA matched state grants…