Plan to Help Singles on Welfare Extended

Ventura County will continue a program to reduce the number of single people on welfare by helping the recipients get jobs, Ventura County supervisors decided Tuesday.

The supervisors voted 4 to 0 to authorize spending about $50,000 next year to continue providing job counseling, drug treatment and other services to the recipients.

Since county officials began the effort in January, 1992, the number of single residents on welfare in the county has plunged by 34%.

According to a report prepared by the county Public Social Services Agency, the number of single residents receiving General Relief has dropped from 461 in January, 1992, to 304 in September. The reduction saved the county about $500,000 last year, officials said.

“This is just an outstanding project,” Supervisor Vicky Howard told the board. “This is the kind of program that we should tell other counties about.”

Overall, the number of single people on welfare makes up a very small portion of the county’s total welfare rolls--which includes about 10,000 families--mostly because it is more difficult for single people to qualify for the assistance.

Single applicants must prove that they have no assets--such as a car or stereo--before they are considered for welfare payments.