Progress Reports, 1968-1969, 1974, 1982-1983

~Human Services

The Human Services Committee
came into existence in August, 1983. It
represents the further evolution of the
Special Task Force on Welfare Issues,
initiated by the President of NDI in
1981. The task force was developed in
direct response to federal, state and
local financial cutbacks in human
service programs and the country's
depressed economic conditions. Because of this situation and the increasing needs of a large population
segment of Detroit and Wayne County,
this task force was charged with examining and addressing the impact of
welfare policies, programs and grant
payments on the poor, minorities, unemployed and the socially disadvantaged. The task force addressed this
charge by promoting policies and
encouraging procedures that led to
self-support, self-sufficiency and
protection of the family. Other objectives were to ensure that these policies
and programs were adequate and
were accessible to the people they
were intended to serve.
Further examination in the area of
policy and programs led to the development of innovative delivery services
and analysis of methods to increase
their effectiveness.
One of the major priorities was to
dispel pervasive welfare myths. These
myths encouraged and supported
negative attitudes about welfare recipients that affected public opinion and
program funding at all levels of government. To meet these objectives
and their related issues, Human Services became a standing committee of
New Detroit.
Among Human Services activities in
1983 were analyses of work-fare or
make-work projects and their relative
effectiveness; analyses and establishment of positions on energy assistance legislation and addressing the
hunger and shelter emergency. Human Services sponsored an Energy
Assistance forum that reflected individuals from a broad base of community organizations, including
churches, block clubs and some nonprofit organizations. The purpose of

this forum was to assist families in their
own neighborhoods who have utility
shut-offs or problems paying their

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Efforts to feed the hungry were supported
by New Detroit.
bills. Additionally, 50,000 energy
brochures were distributed and an Information and Technical Assistance
forum was held to update CBO's on
available resources.
During January, 1983, the committee adopted an "Action Plan for
Food Distribution," working with the
General Motors' and United Automobile Workers' "Care and Share"
food donation program. Strategically
located community organizations
were selected as food distribution
sites to ensure an effective and efficient program. Also, a city-wide list of
food distribution outlets and temporary emergency shelters was made
available to the media, churches,
community groups and other human
service organizations to help them
assist the needy. In addition, a white
paper describing the emergency and
its impact, with recommendations
addressing the short and long term
issues, was developed and distributed. Press conferences were held
to publicize the emergency and to
reinforce the critical needs for jobs in
the private sector, training and retraining and adequate human service
programs.
An on-going function of the Human
Services Committee is to analyze and
monitor welfare policies and to examine innovative ways to provide services. A program that exemplifies the

priority area of exploration and development of new approaches to welfare delivery is the General Assistance
Demonstration Program (GADP).
GADP is a collaborative effort between
NDI and the Department of Social
Services. Within this program, recipients of welfare grants will be offered
purposeful work training by employers
who will match the welfare grant. Positions will be provided on entry and
training levels at the minimum wage
scale. GADP is currently in the implementation stage.
Analyzing, monitoring and examining legislation and programs will continue as priorities for Human Services
in 1984. Making the GADP program
operable will also be one of 1984's
goals. Another major goal will be to
determine methods and approaches
to promoting family stability. The Human Services Committee is dedicated
to helping the poor and disadvantaged secure support and assistance
to meet their basic human needs by
promoting policies and programs that
are equitable, effective and humane.
Fr. Robert A. Mitchell-Chairperson
Ella Bragg-Vice Chairperson
Gerald Smith-Vice Chairperson
Committee
Rose Aguilar, Fr. John Badeen, Virgil Carr,
Leslie B. Carroll, Dr. Ivan L. Cotman, Mary
Clavon, Devon Cunningham, Edward Deeb,
Selma Goode, Ricardo Guzmon, Jerry
Harris, Magalene Hester, Mary Jackson, Dr.
Sandra V. Johnson, I. Roy Jones, Helen B.
Kelly, Marian Kramer, Winston Lang, Sen.
Carl Levin, Wyvette Linebarger, Robert L.
Little, Councilwoman Maryann Mahaffey,
Eben Martin, Rev. Obie Matthews, Beverly
McDonald, Barbara Nelson, Robert Reid,
Leslie Roberts, Diane Bostic-Robinson,
William A. Ryan, James Sheehan, Connie
Soma, Rep. Alma Stallworth, Robert W.
Stewart, Lillie Tabor, S. Martin Taylor, Fr.
Norman Thomas, Margaret Tyson, Sen.
Jackie Vaughn, Ill, Laura Whidby, Charles
F. Whitten, Roy Levy Williams

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