The Workforce Investment Act (WIA), signed into law in August 1998, overhauls the federal job training system that has been in place for more than 15 years. WIA replaces the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) with block grants to states for the provision of employment services to job seekers. Expanded state and local control over the design, implementation, and evaluation of the new workforce investment system is a core component of the Act, and state and local Workforce Investment Boards will be responsible for tailoring the system to local needs.
2000
A Step In the Right Direction: An Analysis of Forecasted Costs and Benefits of the Chicago Living Wage Ordinance
On January 1, 1999, the “Chicago Living Wage Ordinance” (CLWO) went into effect, mandating a “living wage” minimum of $7.60/hour for certain categories of workers of contractors or subcontractors of the city of Chicago. The CLWO, like similar “living wage” laws enacted in over 70 localities around the country, attempts to address two major problems: rising economic inequality and the inadequacy of low-wage jobs for working families.
Living With Welfare Reform: A Survey of Low-Income Families in Illinois
In July of 1997, the nation’s welfare system was dramatically changed by the implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). One of the primary goals of this new program was to decrease the number of families receiving welfare benefits. While the TANF caseload numbers have decreased significantly, advocates argue that many families, although not currently receiving TANF, are still trapped in poverty.
This report looks more closely at the experiences of families who have left TANF and at the reasons
A Fair Day's Pay? Homeless Day Laborers in Chicago
Contrary to popular assumptions, homeless men and women in Chicago are working – and working regularly. The majority of adults living in homeless shelters work day labor through staffing agencies. Yet they remain homeless because the jobs they hold are low paying and unstable. These workers are part of a growing segment of the economy – “contingent workers” who hold temporary job assignments through temporary help agencies.