Public Aid & Welfare

About 36 million Americans received food stamps in November 2009.

Every state in the nation, along with the federal government, offers some form of public aid and welfare to American citizens and to other countries.

Types

Public aid includes food stamps, reduced housing costs, free and reduced meals for school children, medical assistance, aid for victims of natural disasters and aid to foreign countries for a variety of issues, including health care, war and poverty.

History

Public assistance for single mothers began in 1911 with legislation passed on a state level in Illinois. In 1935, the federal government enacted Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

Statistics

According to a November 2009 article in the New York Times called "Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades," as of November 2009, one in eight Americans received food stamps. This translated to about 36 million Americans, with the ranks growing by 20,000 people per day.

Foreign Aid

According to information provided from America.gov., in 2007, the United States was the largest donor of foreign aid. However, $61.7 billion, or more than half of U.S. assistance to foreign countries, came through private donations.

References

• New York Times - The Safety Net: Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades
• Department of Economics - Yale University: The American Welfare System and Family Structure - A Historical Perspective
• America.gov: United States Is Largest Donor of Foreign Aid, Report Says