Pubdate: 7 Mar 1999 Source: Standard-Times (MA) Copyright: 1999 The Standard-Times Contact: http://www.s-t.com/ Author: Polly Saltonstall, Standard-Times staff writer WELFARE LAW MAY LIMIT ADDICTION RECOVERY A wrinkle in the federal welfare reform law has prevented some drug addicts from receiving substance abuse treatment and may jeopardize the existence of some recovery programs, local drug counselors say. The law bars states from providing cash assistance and food stamps to anyone convicted of a drug-related felony. But many drug treatment programs depend on benefits such as food stamps and welfare cash payments to help pay for treatment, said Kym Barboza-Owens, director of the YWCA of Southeastern Massachusetts' Women's Collaborative Project. The YWCA runs a program called Reunion House that reunites recovering addicts with their children. "When someone who wants to get treatment and make something of their life cannot get help, it's like a slap in the face," Ms. Barboza-Owens said. "Folks caught in the cycle of addiction need these benefits to help pay for the roof over their head while they seek help and treatment." The 1994 federal welfare reform law bars states from providing cash assistance and food stamps to anyone convicted for drug offenses after Aug. 22, 1996 -- when the federal bill was signed into law. No one is exempt from the ban, including people participating in drug treatment or pregnant women. The ban applies only to cash welfare assistance and food stamps, not to Medicaid or other federal benefits. Ms. Barboza-Owens and a handful of other local treatment providers raised the issue Friday during a breakfast meeting with state Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral, who promised to work with the group on finding solutions. Mr. Cabral was the only local legislator who showed up at legislative breakfast in honor of Women's Addiction Week. Although states may choose to drop the drug-felony welfare ban, Massachusetts has not. A spokesman for the Department of Transitional Assistance said he does not know how many people have been affected by the law. Spokesman Dick Powers said the provision depends on clients to provide information about past convictions. Although the state does not do background checks, anyone caught lying might be required to reimburse the state for benefits, he said. As of last summer, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Rhode Island had lifted the ban. Another 19 states either had, or planned to modify the ban to exempt some people, such as those enrolled in treatment programs, according to the Legal Action Center, a New York-based advocacy organization. "The ban has had an number of unintended consequences and does not do much to promote recovery among past offenders or help them regain self-sufficiency," said Robb Cowie, the center's director of state policy. "In the end, it denies treatment to a lot of people who need it." The ban could have a huge impact on transitional houses in New Bedford by forcing them to absorb more costs, just at a time when the city needs them most, said Florence Choate, executive director of Project Coach. Ms. Choate's program provides job training and counseling and works with people on probation. Cindy Guy, house case manager at WRAP House, a 14-bed transitional home in New Bedford for women recovering from drug addictions, knows the problem only too well. WRAP House depends on food stamps and welfare payments to help pay for its programs, she said. "We can only have so many women come into the house that are not eligible for food stamps," she said. "If I have six women applying and none are eligible, obviously I cannot take all six." Other area transitional and half-way houses have faced similar dilemmas, she said. Ms. Guy tries to help those she cannot serve by referring them to other programs, but she knows some of those people may end up back on the streets. "There are some women who cannot get treatment because of this," she said. "And these days, it's rare to find anybody with a drug addiction who doesn't have some type of felony conviction. Addicts do a lot of things to get their drugs." - --- MAP posted-by: Mike Gogulski