VOICE OF THE TOWNSHIP
I sometimes have heard persons commenting that individuals receiving public assistance should not get assistance without having to do something in exchange for their assistance. That is exactly what we do here at the Wayne Township Trustee’s Office.
Indiana law provides for townships to establish a program called, “Workfare.” All clients who are able to work must cooperate with Wayne Township’s Workfare Program to continue receiving assistance.
Clients in Wayne Township’s Workfare Program work either in our office or at non-profit agencies. Clients perform a number of duties in our office, including cleaning, lawn work, general maintenance work and participation in special projects. They do the same type of work for several non-profit agencies in Fort Wayne.
Workfare participants provided invaluable help last Fall for our Health Fair and Veterans’ Stand Down. The Health Fair and Stand Down is a huge event, serving several hundred uninsured and underinsured persons with needed health care and services.
Workfare clients helped us set up tables and chairs, helped get the tent ready for the event and did numerous tasks to assist our staff both prior to and during the Health Fair and Stand Down. They also did a great job organizing coats to be given to participants at the Health Fair and Stand Down.
The number of hours a client works in the Workfare Program is determined by the amount of assistance that client has received from the Township.
In addition to providing much needed help for our office and non-profit agencies, the Workfare Program has another very positive outcome. Clients participating in Workfare are, at the same time, learning how to be good employees.
The Workfare Program provides clients with experience in a work environment. They learn how to follow directions and how to conduct themselves in the workplace. Workfare participation helps clients with their self-esteem and gives them the confidence to look for jobs.
Of course, not all assistance clients are willing to cooperate with our Workfare Program. Those who don’t cooperate are denied future assistance for as long as six months. But, many other clients find the program beneficial in helping them move from assistance to independence.
Richard A. Stevenson, Sr.
Wayne Township Trustee
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