August 2006

When the welfare reform law, formally known as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, was signed into law, it was undoubtedly a controversial piece of legislation. With the tenth anniversary of the law coming up next week, controversy threatens to cloud a clear analysis of this legislation, once again. It is clear that the welfare reform law did reduce caseloads. What is unclear (and also the more pressing concern) is whether it reduced poverty as well. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

After publishing back-to-back special issues of Clearinghouse Review: Journal of Poverty Law and Policy, the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law is beginning to plan for next year’s special issue. The editors are asking, “What do you think?

William Wilen’s article about his work as housing litigation director of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law appears in the inaugural issue of Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy. Drawing on his experience and success in working on the Henry Horner public housing development, Wilen’s article, “The Horner Model: Successfully Redeveloping Public Housing,” recounts the history of Horner and its redevelopment from Wilen’s point of view as legal counsel.

Transit can mean many different things to different people; yet every community’s strength and livelihood is impacted by a good transit system. It’s Time for Transit! will take place on October 3, 2006 at Northern Illinois University – Naperville, located at 1120 E. Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563. Stay tuned to www.workwelfareandfamilies.org for updates.