The problem is that it teaches people to depend on public assistance rather than training them to get jobs and be self sufficient at the expense of the taxpayers. My ex-husband is a part of this program. He is perfectly capable of getting a job but since he suffers from depression he was able to get housing assistance as well as money from Hennepin County to live on so he doesn't have to find a job. The agency that he is working with will support him for as long as necessary. Homelessness is a problem in this country but teaching people to not be self sufficient is not the way to go about it.

A lot of people genuinely need programs like this.

people aren't allowed to work their way off of some assistance, it's either on or off according to guidelines. Sliding scale assistance should be built into assistance programs with an incentive to get a job and get off the programs.

the homeless will come out of the the woodwork! This is not America!My house payment is $943 a month...I pay every month...but why? You nice people are willing to "take care of me" how thoughtful....wait and see!!!!

No money comes from the federal government, they are just the middle man for China. I have a tennant on disability. She has two kids, and I wish I had her computer skills. She sits on the couch all day and smokes 2 packs a day. For recreation she goes to the foodshelf and the casino. Her ex-husband sits at the legion and drinks all day with his $30,000 truck in the parking lot. She leaves the kitchen window open because her cat likes to sit on the windowsill. I told her to close it, but she said, "I am on heating assistance so I don't worry about it......." And on and on and on.

For some this works well, they get on track, for others they keep a lot of folks employed using tax payers dollars. What about helping those who are helping themselves? help before they become homeless.

Sounds like a lot of justifing jobs and the many programs. People(taxpapers, those going to work) are catching on!!!

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

I am glad the woman in the story has been clean and gotten her kids back, etc. She's been clean for 2 years and in this program since 2004 (6 years). And the "program" is just starting to talk about getting a driver's license and/or a job??? That's the problem. What's been going on for the last 6 years. This is an example of the phrase in the story " ...as long as they need it...." (or want it).

Call me a caveman but I just plain believe in self-reliance. At the same time I take langton4's admonition to heart, and give like most of us. I don't like the government taking from the working class for the benefit of the too lazy to work class though. From each according to ability, to each according to need --- it's never worked, ever. If you want to read about some very good organizations and programs to get homeless off the street and on their way, pick up the book "Scratch Beginnings". It's fascinating to watch this young man work his way up via some help from private organizations. That's where you should send your money, voluntarily.