The Department of Public Welfare - Essay Example

Usually, these disadvantaged people, having no steady source of income, suffered from economic changes and poor living conditions. As a result of this, the mid-nineteenth century saw a significant deterioration of the living standards of the poor people, characterized by high death rates and disease preferences, high levels of indiscipline, mismanagement, and corruption.

The cost of providing subsidized housing was high therefore the state would later change to provide a relatively cheaper ‘outdoor relief’ to disadvantaged individuals who lived with their relatives or friends. This relief worked efficiently in providing quality living standards, despite the economic depression where massive layoffs occurred resulting in high levels of unemployment of able-bodied people (Joanne, 1966).

Analysis and Discussion
The article ‘Rites of Passage’ represents a beneficiary of public relief trying to give back to society. Cephas Ribble, a sixty-eight-year-old man, enters the County Department of Public Welfare with the sole intention of donating farm products to the welfare so that their foodstuff can be distributed to the poor and needy people. On arrival, he seems not sure whether he is presentable or not. Additionally, the staff present in the office had the assumption that all elderly people visiting the office were in need of assistance as it had been the norm. Mr. Ribble does not realize that the public assistance once given to him no longer exists. He explains how the relief aid provided to farmers in 1934 had sustained his family.

He further explains how he worked hard to buy his house and pay off the debts that his family had. He requests the woman to bring men to his truck to offload his massive food donation. However, he did not realize that laws had changed and food donations were no longer necessary. Despite his good conscience and massive donation, Cephas’s truck blocks all the workers’ cars and all workers leave the office to assist him offload. The donation suffers sharp criticism due to the disorganized distribution of the food with some protesting that the food contains contraceptive medicine, and others claim racism in the mode of distribution (Joanne, 1966). I believe that he should have discussed the issue of donation with the welfare management to ensure reasonable donation. In addition, it would have been advisable that he create a program of frequently donating foodstuff since the perishable products that he donates cannot be consumed for a long time.

In conclusion, he should have considered processing the perishable commodities before the donation to ensure consumption over a longer time. Lastly, it would have been advisable for him to donate the food himself to the poor and the needy as well as create a program that would teach them to be self-sufficient (Joanne, 1966). The County Welfare office also should have considered the proper distribution of the food in a reasonable way to minimize wastage and ensure proper consumption. This could have been done by transporting the surplus donation to other welfare offices in neighboring areas instead of giving it to children. The county governor and mayor should also have taken bold steps to ensure proper distribution of all the food equitably between the white and black people. The development project programs aimed at improving the wellbeing of its citizens are vital to every state and there is a great importance to support and encourage them. The United States has put legislation that ensures equitable provision of social services to all (Joanne, 1966). Read More