The massive overhaul of the Welfare system has
resulted in drastic changes in the way the federal government funds social services.
It has also had a significant impact on the work of gospel rescue missions.
While few faith-based organizations have
benefited financially, the
already growing demand for their services has accelerated as families lose
assistance as they use up the five-year lifetime limit on Welfare benefits as proscribed
in the new legislation.
Learn more about the impact of welfare reform
on the member organizations of the AGRM.
Information on Welfare Reform from the
Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
- The AGRM's most recent
Annual
Statistical Report (May 9, 2005) shows how much can be accomplished by private sector
human service agencies. Unlike most services to the homeless, AGRM member missions depend
on individual donors for 80% or more of their financial support. Last year, concerned
Christians donated over $731,338,034 dollars to AGRM member missions, along with tens of
thousands of volunteer hours.
- Charitable Choice: A New
Opportunity for Christian Ministries to Cooperate with Public Welfare - an overview of
Section 104 of the Welfare Reform bill of 1996, designed to encourage faith-based
charities to participate in government funding for social service initiatives.
- The Opportunity of Welfare
Reform. - How changes in the system provide the Church and the Christian community a
unique opportunity to make a difference in peoples' lives.
- Roper Starch Study of the
attitudes of employers toward hiring homeless and poor individuals. (sponsored by the
AGRM).
- Partnership' With Strings
Attached? - William Raspberry's column in the Friday, September 20 edition of the
Washington Post. Stripping rescue missions programs for their spiritual dimensions is too
high a price for government "help"
- Executive Director, Steve Burger's intial comments on the new Welfare and Medicaid Reform
Act of 1996.
- Introducing the isuses involved in the current Welfare Reform debate and how they relate to the work of
the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
- New Hope for Gospel Missions?
Devil's in the details - Clause in welfare law lets states contract with religious
groups for social services. But critical questions remain on proselytizing. A guest
commentary by Stephen E. Burger, AGRM's Executive Director, as it
appeared in USA Tuesday, September 3, 1996.
- Special Topics in Welfare
Reform - from a 1996 AGRM briefing for members of the US House & Senate.
- While most of the AGRM's member agencies take no government
funding, some interesting findings came out in our latest study concerning
Government Funding & Homeless Shelters Operated by Religious
Organizations , conducted in early 1995. Collected comments of mission directors
reveal why most refuse government funding, along with the experience (good and bad) of
those who do.
Other Web Sites with Information on Welfare
Reform
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