Making ends meet: how single mothers survive welfare and low-wage work

Abstract

As recently as a few months ago, I was full of anecdotes of my ownexperience with welfare and welfare reform based on years of representinglow-income clients as a legal-services lawyer and clinical teacher. Since I readMaking Ends Meet,' however, I have a new set of anecdotes, referring to thebook several times a week. In discussions with students, I point out whereEdin and Lein's findings agree (or disagree) with the students' ownobservations. I repeatedly ask colleagues if they have read the book. Ireappraise my clients' work situations in terms of Edin and Lein's findings.My colleague Kathleen Sullivan and I decided to assign the book for ourSpring Community Legal Services clinic, in which students provide legalservices to low-income people in New Haven. In short, I have acted as thoughMaking Ends Meet is a very important book. At the risk of courting hyperbole,Making Ends Meet may be the most important resource we have in trying tofigure which road to take in our ongoing journey toward welfare reform.