However, my mother worked in DHS, and when "Workfare" was implemented during the Clinton years, she reported that her caseload dropped substantially.
While some individuals are definitely destitute and we should help them out, there is a cadre of give me sumtins out there who need be weined from our wallets. First target should be non citizen aliens who do not have permanent alien status. After that, there are those who have the assets, while not the income, to sustain themselves. Assistance should be a last resort, not some program(s) designed for one to keep their financial assets.