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Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization: 30 Years of Welfare Advocacy

The Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization is a 30 year old statewide organization whose 5,000 members include public assistance recipients, other low-income individuals, and friends of welfare rights. The organization's goal is "to motivate and educate on self help techniques, as well as to educate, train and organize the poor people to their rights under law."

The organization grew out of Crusades for Children, a group of clergy, social workers, and agency staff. In 1967 the group changed its name to the Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization and became an organization of mostly low-income people that focused on a broad array of issues including housing, welfare, education, and employment. Its early activities included community education and job training. In 1972, PWRO established Welfare Pride, Inc. to provide education and training programs. Its programs have provided sensitivity training to welfare caseworkers and have moved hundreds of people from welfare into jobs. Over the years PWRO has also provided advocacy and assistance to thousands of clients and conducted outreach programs to help people take advantage of nutrition programs. Its advocacy with the state welfare agency has succeeded in obtaining favorable welfare policies and blocking harmful policies.

PWRO's current activities build on this long tradition. In coalition with other advocacy organizations PWRO is working on the state's implementation of welfare reform. One of PWRO's concerns is the lack of adequate jobs for welfare recipients. It has been raising this issue in meetings with the Governor's office and the welfare agency. PWRO is working with unions and other advocacy groups to develop a public service jobs proposal which they hope to have introduced in the legislature. The organization is also assuring that its members testify at state sponsored welfare reform meetings held across the state.

PWRO's advocacy and case management program is staffed by volunteers who include public assistance recipients. These volunteers are trained to handle the range of public benefits issues, including welfare, housing, and Medicaid. They provide advice and assistance, including representation at fair hearings, to 20-25 people a day. PWRO's job training program provides various services to participants, including basic education and assessment, training in job readiness and basic office skills, referral to appropriate education and training programs in the community, and assistance in securing necessary support services. Last year PWRO assisted 97 people in moving into employment that enabled them to leave welfare.

The organization has also engaged in outreach activities related to the state's plans to require Medicaid participants to enroll in a health maintenance organization (HMO). Mandatory HMO enrollment, which is now required in a few counties, will soon be a statewide requirement. PWRO's community education program aims to inform people of their rights under this new system and what to look for in choosing an HMO.

-- from the February 1997 issue of Welfare News