Director: Mississippi does not track welfare program results

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi’s scandal-plagued welfare program turns away most candidates for money help, and it has not been monitoring whether or not its packages fulfill the purpose of lifting folks out of poverty in one of many poorest states within the nation, lawmakers have been advised Tuesday.

Robert G. “Bob” Anderson mentioned that when he turned director of the Mississippi Division of Human Companies in March 2020, he discovered the company had “output numbers” to trace spending.

“However we didn’t have lots of end result data,” Anderson mentioned. “We weren’t monitoring outcomes as an company.”

In response to questions from Democratic Rep. Robert Johnson of Natchez, Anderson mentioned Human Companies is taking a look at knowledge to outline whether or not packages are efficient, however he didn’t say when a program to trace outcomes shall be in place.

Anderson spoke on the state Capitol throughout a listening to held by the state Home and Senate Democratic caucuses.

Democratic leaders mentioned they convened as a result of Republicans, who management the 2 chambers, haven’t held hearings on a multimillion-dollar welfare misspending scandal that has ensnared a number of outstanding figures, together with retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre.

“We can not assist however to acknowledge that Mississippi has two fingers — one hand that’s principally taking support from the poor and one other hand that’s principally giving it to the rich,” mentioned Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville. “And Mississippi must do a greater job.”

Anderson mentioned about 90% of people that apply for Momentary Help for Needy Households in Mississippi don’t obtain it, both as a result of their purposes are denied or as a result of they abandon their purposes. He mentioned Human Companies is contemplating utilizing “navigators” to assist candidates.

Brandy Nichols of Jackson advised lawmakers that she has 4 kids — an 8-year-old, 5-year-old twins and a 4-year-old. She has labored a number of completely different jobs, together with as a cashier and a housekeeper.

She mentioned she by no means anticipated to want authorities support, however TANF helped her pay for groceries, cleansing provides, clothes and sudden bills resembling emergency automotive repairs. She mentioned she has already used the five-year restrict on funds underneath this system.

“I can not obtain TANF,” Nichols mentioned. “However my kids’s most costly years are forward.”

Anderson is a former assistant U.S. legal professional, and Republican Gov. Tate Reeves nominated him to guide Human Companies simply weeks after one of many company’s former administrators, John Davis, was arrested on allegations of misspending tens of millions of {dollars} that have been meant to assist among the poorest folks in the US.

Davis was chosen by Reeves’ predecessor, Republican Gov. Phil Bryant. Davis just lately pleaded responsible to state and federal fees tied to among the misspending.

As Human Companies director, Davis had direct management of federal funds that prosecutors mentioned have been improperly used on bills resembling drug rehab for a former skilled wrestler and first-class airfare for Davis.

Court docket paperwork additionally present that underneath Davis, $5 million from TANF was spent on a volleyball area on the College of Southern Mississippi — a challenge that Favre pushed on the college, the place his daughter was taking part in the game.

Favre has repaid $1.1 million he acquired for talking charges to assist pay for the volleyball facility. The cash got here from the Mississippi Neighborhood Training Heart, a nonprofit group that spent TANF {dollars} with Human Companies’ approval. State Auditor Shad White mentioned Favre nonetheless owes $228,000 in curiosity.

Favre isn’t dealing with prison fees however is certainly one of 38 defendants in a civil lawsuit that seeks to get better misspent welfare cash. Favre, a Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame member, mentioned final week that he has been “ unjustly smeared within the media” in protection over the welfare spending.

Johnson mentioned the Mississippi Legislature must eradicate hurdles for welfare candidates, together with a drug screening requirement in state regulation. Adults making use of for TANF should full a questionnaire about drug use. If the solutions present a “affordable chance” of a substance use dysfunction, the applicant should take a drug take a look at.

The Heart for Legislation and Social Coverage, or CLASP, a Washington-based nonprofit group that seeks to cut back poverty, mentioned Mississippi acquired 11,407 TANF purposes in 2017. After the questionnaire, 464 candidates got drug checks, and 6 of these checks discovered drug use.

Elizabeth Decrease-Basch, deputy director of coverage for CLASP, advised lawmakers Tuesday that one other Washington-based advocacy group, the Heart on Funds and Coverage Priorities, discovered that for each 100 households with kids dwelling in poverty in Mississippi, 71 households acquired money help by way of a welfare program in 1979. By 1995-96, support was going to 39 households per 100 dwelling in poverty. By 2019-20, Mississippi’s support quantity was all the way down to 4 households per 100 dwelling in poverty — tied for final within the U.S.

“The share of people who find themselves getting money help in comparison with the intensive want is simply astonishing,” Decrease-Basch mentioned.