Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407150038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Then Paula Kirtley took to the podium in the crowded exhibition hall of the Roanoke Civic Center.
"I don't have enough money to provide adequately for my children," said Kirtley, a Roanoke welfare recipient. "We run out of food one week before stamps are issued each and every month, no matter how creative I get.
"I want a well-paying job to replace my measly check. But I continue to wake up to poverty every day and lay down with it every night."
Kirtley represented a group of people whom the Governor's Commission on Citizen Empowerment wanted most to hear from - welfare recipients, who know best the system's flaws and benefits.
Ninety-four people signed up to speak at the hearing; 50 spoke, sending the hearing nearly 90 minutes past its scheduled two hours.
Kay Coles James, Virginia's secretary of Health and Human Resources and commission chairwoman, was criticized earlier this month for ending the commission's town meeting in Norfolk promptly after two hours, giving some residents no opportunity to speak.
Her staff said criticism of how that meeting was handled did not contribute to the decision to extend Wednesday's hearing.
The commission heard a variety of concerns: from the Lexington obstetrician who had treated too many pregnant teens; the welfare mother of three who wanted fathers to take as much responsibility as mothers; the former welfare recipient, once told that she needed to have babies to stay on welfare and who now earns $40,000 a year; a Lynchburg woman who had guts enough to sing about the plight of the mentally ill in Virginia.
"To put me through college costs half as much to the state as it does to keep a mother with two children on welfare," said Karen Hall, a Roanoke woman and mother of two who lives in a subsidized apartment and receives food stamps. "That is a sad commentary for the state of Virginia."
The commission swept into Roanoke on Wednesday as part of its eight-month mission to build on welfare reforms enacted by the General Assembly this year.
Since May, the commission has been gathering information to help them devise a plan that requires able-bodied welfare recipients to work for the benefits, provides day care for single parents and includes incentives for getting off - and staying off - welfare rolls. The commission will submit an implementation plan to the governor in the fall.
"It's one thing to talk about it in theory and sit in a nice air-conditioned conference room with a bunch of folks," said Allen, who accompanied the commission to Roanoke.
"It's another to hear from folks who know firsthand how it's made a difference in their community and their neighborhood."
The legislation that Allen has signed into law calls for thousands of poor families to receive job training, child care, transportation and health care in exchange for a two-year limit on welfare benefits. Participants would be required to seek private-sector jobs within a year of going on welfare rolls, or to take public service jobs.
They would be forced off the rolls completely after the second year, whether or not they had a permanent job.
"I don't mind helping folks who can't help themselves - someone who is disabled and can't work, or someone who is elderly," Allen said. "But for someone who is able-bodied and can work, they ought to be working. And if they can't get a job, they ought to be doing community service work."
Allen disputed claims that the commission's appointment - and charge - was merely for show.
"People may say it's bad to listen ...,'' he said. "But my view is it's the most important thing we can do - learn directly from the people."
Allen and commission members heard Wednesday from Florine Thornhill, who was awarded President Clinton's Volunteer Action Award for her neighborhood group, the Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organization. The group was formed in 1980 by residents who were concerned about the crime, overgrown vacant lots, abandoned houses and run-down parks in their community.
Allen scribbled his name into the concrete foundation of a once-vacant home, one of several being renovated by the neighborhood organization.
"We can learn a whole lot from Florine on financing," Allen said. "This lady could run a bank. She utilized different mechanisms that I'm not so certain other parts of the state are even familiar with.
"Everyone has an idea. Those sort of things need to be disseminated."
by CNB