Trends in Safety Net Use

The Safety Net Research Group will be devoted to monitoring changes in government and nongovernment transfers to the poor and assessing whether government and nongovernment programs are meeting the needs of the poor. This RG is especially critical because transfers are playing an increasingly important role in reducing poverty, especially in the recession and its aftermath. The Center has just founded the California Welfare Laboratory (C-WELL) and will be carrying out much of this research at the state as well as national level. This RG will be co-led by Henry Brady (Dean, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC-Berkeley) and Bruce Owen (Director, Stanford Public Policy Program).