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Updated: 8:14 PM Nov 4, 2009
DHS Workers Face Tough Job Conditions
For workers at the Department of Human Service a normal day on the job could consist of threats from clientele in addition to dealing with an overload of clients. Posted: 6:51 PM Nov 4, 2009Reporter: Meaghan M. Norman Email Address: Meaghan.Norman@wilx.com |
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Go back in history and see who started it and why.Take it away and see how bad things will be for all.Personally I agree with what the bible says.There will always be the poor.It is not a sin to be poor,but a sin when one has so much and don't help the poor ones.The bible talks about the poor all the time.Hate your brother,then hate your self.If humans can't help their own kind,what are they worth.If this is a socialist nation,why did welfare get started in the first place?It's been going on for about 90 yrs or so,if that's the case.We are still a very free country.If we weren't the government would be 100 times worse.
yeah, where did we stop being a republic and became a socialist nation?
Many go to the DHS for many reasons.They can help advise you to where to go and about some places to get certain things.So what kind of nails some one has,or the car they drive or the phone they have has what to do with what.Please.In case any one wonders welfare don't pay car payments.They don't give enough to buy many things.Don't believe everything you see or hear.The guidelines to get help are very strict.I borrow a family car all the time to do my little chores.I can no longer afford insurance,plates,or gas most the time.There are always the liers and users in the systems.If caught they will be seeing time behind bars.Or never get help again.They know who they are.If certain programs would not have been cut years ago,this would not be going on like it may be now?Case workers are doing the best with what they got to work with.Not much any more.Try the job and see how you like it.
Where in the constitution that the government need to provide welfare and social services to people.
It is hard to really know who is not in need or just needs less than they get.I'm over 60.I have basically no income.However I cut and style my own hair,I have decent clothing when I go out in public,and do my nails that look professional.Things I had to work with way before I became jobless.I stay with family so not to be homeless.But do my best to look clean and decent in public.We have a whole new group of people applying.Educated,had jobs for years,and now have so little.I know of no one on welfare that can make CAR PAYMENTS.They could be using a borrowed car or had a car paid for before loosing job.Assuming spreads rumors and then some get the wrong idea what welfare people are like.I've seen people at free clothing places getting stuff for resale.That takes away from those needing.Very few do that.So don't think many do.I see some young people having babies and not married.What can be done about that?I'm not from lansing area but I do know not much help for people is here.
Sure churches do what they can.Lets consider the small towns with maybe 15 churches.Yet 15,000 people county wide.8,000 or more people out of work,low in come people or the eldery ones needing help?How much can the churches do really.Don't judge all areas to be like Lansing.Compare who can or can't give stuff,How many don't have jobs.Compare hillsdale county to Lansing area.All cuts are state wide and some counties compared to lansing?Smaller counties most jobs are gone.Many things that go on in lansing do not happen in rural communities.They don't have a lot of programs big cities do.The fact is poverty hurts all.It is all over MI.More need to know what goes on in other areas than in big cities.So many are out of work,and it has destroyed many people dreams of having or doing anything.Welfare is impossible to live on.The government people need to give it a try.They say people can live on it,so why not them.Better yet get thousand of jobs in MI.People want to work at decent wages.
I have seen the verbal abuse and a workers' car all keyed up in the parking lot. I see the clients coming in and out, and often, you can tell that they hate being there. You know, just know, they are people caught up in the current depression here in MI. However, I do see the scammers with some expensive cars and really fancy clothes, and some pretty darn expensive looking manicures. I see TERRIBLE parents and I see very loving parents. What we need are more workers to separate the ones who really need the help vs. the ones who are scamming the system.
So many that don't like social workers and spread untrue things about them have been turned down by social services for help.There are many guidelines one must meet before getting help.They may seem very unfair to some that had so much and had jobs,and have no clue to what one must not have or do before getting help.Many have worked hard for years,paid their bills and bought things because they could afford to do so.How many would of expected jobs to close,go over seas,lay off thousands,and for the economy to become so messed up?So just because some one has something don't mean they didn't work and pay for it,before loosing jobs.The state says who works in the DHS offices and just to let volunteers go in,is not the way they do business.On job training,maybe.300$ phone?No one on welfare can buy that kind of stuff.No one can misuse money on welfare or they won't have NEEDED stuff.The ASSUME people get so much is NOT true.If their were thousand of jobs so people could work they would.
We have thousands of churches across this state and at least one thousand in the Capital area. Church provide more than government want to acknowledge. Some churches barely survive, but they still give support when they can.
Computers are out of wack so much.Many went through this with unemployment claims and their check.Progress at the wrong time.Fixing what didn't need fixed.The governments way.That has been failing for how long now.Want to be a workers at the local DHS.Go for it.You can do a better job.OK.Remember who your boss is.The government.They keep changing everything.The left hand don't know what the right hands doing.Many social workers don't like how the government is treating so many in need.All the cuts and causing harm to people.They have to do their jobs the way they are told.Sure many are in fear of loosing their jobs.A program that is so needed now,and so many cuts made in the past.Some never thought they'd be asking for help.Many more will have to.No job is that secure in MI.The social workers get blocks threw at them all the time.They can't find answers that are no longer there.Charities can't begin to keep up any more.Go see how much they can't give.
Show me one city or area in MI that churches and charities can do much for any amount of people.We have thousands all over mich that have NO JOBS,They are educated people and look for jobs all the time.Many have been retrained and retrained with no luck on getting jobs.After a certain age employers don't hire people looking.Some states have jobs but it is true they hire those already there in most jobs.They do what they can to keep their social programs down.It is law you must be in a state X amount of time{MONTHS}before you can draw any kind of welfare programs.Many have found that out the hard way.Case workers in most places are over loaded with cases.Then they have to go by state RULES.All the cutting has hurt the social programs so much.Many have sold off all they had or went through all savings before even asking for help.So many worried about fraud?If you expect turn people in is the only way.many are out their fighting to just survive.Don't hate them because they are now poor.
Yrs back,one of our governors,cut out field workers to go to homes and check out different things.This helped keep fraud down.There are those that aren't honest I'm sure and I have felt they should also give drug testing to those who get help.Most I ever meet are honest people going by all rules.I'm from a smaller county,so I have heard stories of what does go on.Cuts have been made to the DHS programs that shouldn't of been as some one in upper gov tried making a name for themselves.I can't even think about with out funds and certain programs how one social worker can keep up with anything.Their case loads are way to many in some cases.High stress job.The blame goes onto the big government.You need to find out what is really going on before getting so up set about what people do or don't do.We assume so much.One bad apple can spoil the whole basket full.Charities,churches can no longer supply help needed.Where are the jobs in other states?Problems?Complain to upper gov about checks.
Not all workers are mean or not doing their jobs.If I seen 200 people a day and they were of a bad attitude,I may get a little upset with many also.It is a two way street.Many don't know why they don't get this or that.Poverty is an awful thing.Kids are suffering as many adults.Many now forced to ask for help after unemployment runs out and still no jobs are found,don't get what is what.The guideline stuff.Before we say they aren't doing their job ect.We need to walk in the shoes of case workers.The state of Mi gov are their bosses.They make all the calls to what area get what.Food cards are federal,not state.Lack of workers and certain programs in the DHS has been cut so many times.Seek out other jobs in other states.They hire their own first in general labors.Move where?And have no roof over your head or your kids?The bigger the city the bigger the needs.Even 211 is of no use in some areas.Think welfare people have it made?Try being there.There are good and bad in all.
I am wondering why they do not let people like myself volunteer to do these people's jobs or hire 2-3 people here in Ingham County. I almost have a social work degree and could do their job. If you would even consider letting some of the people who get these services volunteering and returning phone calls for workers, give each worker an assistant or even one for every 3-5 workers. To help process paper work and answer questions. People need jobs and would take 8 dollars an hour right now. Something should be done and soon or this situation is going to spiral and people are going to get hurt. I understand both sides but Lansing government needs to do something. Now. AJ
@ A Voter- LOL!I'm not at the library, but my neighbor who is fortunate enough to be employed is kind enough to let me use her computer...and lots of people DO use library computers (just go to Carnegie in downtown Jackson- it's a four-hour wait most days). I totally get what your saying- nothing makes me sicker than seeing people in the waiting room at the welfare office using their $300 cell phones and expensive North Face parkas...BUT...especially during these economic times there are many who are first-time welfare recipients recently laid-off who are using the system as a TEMPORARY measure for assistance until new employment can be found. Many people such as myself have paid taxes into these programs for years, and are now needing several months (not years) assistance. I agree with you that many people abuse these programs and it's sickening...but please don't lump us all into one category :)