FANTASY PIECE part 1: what I would do for the homeless

Yeah, this is my fantasy piece on what I would actually do if I could change the homeless situation in anyway.

 1)  First thing I would do is restore the welfare/public assistance benefits from the Clinton Administration.  Yes, we all want everyone working but that's not exactly happening now.  I thought the whole move was mean spirited.  Now a lot of those people who pushed for welfare reform are without work themselves.  Those benefits that could have helped them are no longer available.  And let's not talk about workfare which is to me a step above slavery.

 2)  I would fix the food stamp program.  Yes, there are people who abuse and misuse the system.  Punish those who do that.  Severely punish those who sell their benefits. 

 3)  My most important reform, if you are born in this country you are automatically guaranteed food, clothing and shelter.  This doesn't mean you get lobster, Air Jordans and a room at the Marriott.  This simply means that a person born in this country who is facing hard times would have access to food banks and pantries. Just as important you can get warm clothing.  Not designer wear.  You would also be able to get shelter.  The job of social services then would be to work with you to get you on your feet realistically so you don't need the handouts.  As for people not born in the United States, I would have it so that citizens get the same benefits.  Permanent Residents would get partial services.  Illegals would not be entitles to anything.  The purpose is to focus on US citizens.

4)  Workfare would be a thing of the past.  Yes, it is good to encourage people to work but doing hard labor for a welfare check is degrading.

 5)  SERIOUSLY push education and training programs while on public assistance.  There should be a bonus or incentive for good grades.  In fact there would be different categories for people applying for assistance and the goal is to get people to go to school and job trainings.

 6)  Offer pre-homeless plans.  These would be programs that would hopefully prevent a family from becoming homeless in the first place.