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This seems like it should be an easy question, and maybe I HAVE found the right answer and am just having trouble believing it because it's different from what I've seen in my country, but...
My main character is nineteen or twenty years old. He's in school, getting by on scholarships, part time jobs, etc. He comes from pretty abject poverty, in Chicago or environs.
I think his parents are chronic alcoholics, but I don't want them to actually be homeless, if I can help it. I figure that while he was under eighteen they probably got some income support for him and were able to stretch it enough to get by.
But as adults, without a dependent child, what social assistance programs are available to them? They might have had part-time or short-term jobs sometimes, but they're not steadily employed.
From what I'm finding on the web, I'm not sure they'd be eligible for welfare? (This is the part I'm having trouble understanding).
Would people like this be eligible for cash welfare? Would they get food stamps? Would "subsidized" housing be "free" housing? Or would they be dependent on shelters and food banks?
I know this seems like a question I should be able to answer with just google, but I'm having trouble with it. I'd really appreciate any assistance.
My main character is nineteen or twenty years old. He's in school, getting by on scholarships, part time jobs, etc. He comes from pretty abject poverty, in Chicago or environs.
I think his parents are chronic alcoholics, but I don't want them to actually be homeless, if I can help it. I figure that while he was under eighteen they probably got some income support for him and were able to stretch it enough to get by.
But as adults, without a dependent child, what social assistance programs are available to them? They might have had part-time or short-term jobs sometimes, but they're not steadily employed.
From what I'm finding on the web, I'm not sure they'd be eligible for welfare? (This is the part I'm having trouble understanding).
Would people like this be eligible for cash welfare? Would they get food stamps? Would "subsidized" housing be "free" housing? Or would they be dependent on shelters and food banks?
I know this seems like a question I should be able to answer with just google, but I'm having trouble with it. I'd really appreciate any assistance.