2009 Reports

Latinos and Social Welfare

Gonzalez, Jose J.; Smith, Raymond Arthur

Social welfare programs are government sponsored safety nets aimed at protecting and aiding families during tough economic times, yet meant to assist them before reaching poverty. Due to mainly high unemployment rates, foreclosures, and economic struggles Latinos tend to receive welfare benefits at proportionally higher rates. As the Latino population continues to grow at increasing levels, only through welfare reform that tackles the underlying socio‐economic issues of impoverished Latino communities will this number begin to decline.