HARRISBURG - A decades-old state program that provides cash grants as a lifeline to the poor will go out of existence Wednesday with a one-month reprieve having run its course.
The General Assistance cash grant program, which dates to the Great Depression, has provided a monthly stipend of roughly $200 to nearly 70,000 Pennsylvanians. The great majority of recipients have been adults with permanent or temporary disabilities, but they also include victims of domestic violence, children under 18 in the care of an adult who is not a relative and individuals in drug and alcohol treatment programs.
A Senate tally shows: 1,297 recipients in Luzerne County; 975 in Lackawanna County; 516 in Schuylkill County; 449 in Monroe County; 246 in Northumberland County; 181 in Wayne County; 149 in Carbon County; 127 in Susquehanna County; 116 in Pike County; 115 in Bradford County; 68 in Wyoming County; and 16 in Sullivan County.
The program was slated to end July 1 with the new fiscal year, but a last-minute agreement under the new state budget let it run through this month so recipients could be officially notified by the Department of Public Welfare.
Gov. Tom Corbett proposed eliminating the program in his budget address in February. The administration has generally eliminated or cut back social service programs that go beyond what the federal government requires.
Conceivably, someone could receive his or her last General Assistance stipend on Tuesday, said DPW spokeswoman Carey Miller.
Since the program's demise became evident, debate has focused on what DPW is doing to cushion the loss of the monthly stipend for a vulnerable population. Mr. Corbett said last month that efforts would be made to determine if those losing stipends are eligible for other programs.
"We are encouraging clients to go to their caseworker," said Ms. Miller.
She said the type of assistance available would depend on each individual's situation, but access to medical assistance and food stamps are two possibilities.
There's no sign of a systematic effort by state officials to assist General Assistance recipients, said Gary Drapek, president of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne counties.
"You will start realizing a lot of fallout from the loss of GA when the cold weather starts hitting," said Mr. Drapek.
A number of area recipients rely on the stipend to help with heating costs, said Mr. Drapek. United Way is putting resources into a "Gift of Warmth" program that it operates to help meet that need.
A coalition of advocacy groups wants Mr. Corbett to say publicly what programs are available for those losing general assistance. The coalition plans events in several cities Tuesday.
"It is time for the governor to tell us what help he found," said Terrance Meacham of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project.
Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com