General Assistance-Unemployable (GAU)

The Senate budget cuts $90 million from General Assistance-Unemployable (GAU) recipients. The "reforms" assume that with professional assistance, people can document their disability sufficiently to qualify for Social Security within 18 months, instead of the two to three years it takes now, with appeals. It cuts the stipend from a measly $339 to $50 and ties that to accepting shelter or housing, mental health or chemical dependency treatment.

Meanwhile, mental health treatment is cut 2% across the board (in both budgets) and I cannot find any increase in chemical dependency treatment. What happens when people relapse, or are kicked out of treatment? They lose their housing, too? We know that most people need multiple chances to get clean and sober, yet we don't provide enough treatment slots, especially residential beds, for long enough to establish new friends, new habits, new places and jobs.

The Senate limits GAU medical coupons to 12 months in any 24-month period. Can we think of any justification? Since 44% of GAU recipients have a mental illness, this will cause them to go off their meds, which will likely put many back in the streets after a short period. This sounds like a prescription for "homeless musical chairs" while some people get to take turns with others for housing and medical treatment.

The House budget fully funds GAU. The reform bill renames it the Disability Lifeline. We support the House budget for Disability Lifeline (GAU) and ask you to ask your legislators to do the same.

Sarajane Siegfriedt