Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Its Role in Response to the Effects of Hurricane Katrina

Publication Date: September 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Social conditions

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Abstract:

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant provides grants to states to help them fund a wide variety of benefits and services to low-income families with children. TANF is best known as helping fund ongoing cash welfare benefits for families with children, but the block grant may also fund other benefits and services such as emergency payments, child care, transportation assistance, and other social services. Welfare programs are not usually associated with responses to natural disasters. However, the scope of Hurricane Katrina's displacement of families, the strain likely to be placed on human service agencies responding to this displacement, plus the flexibility allowed states to design programs under TANF, has made the block grant a potential source of help to the victims of this disaster. H.R. 3672, which cleared the Congress on September 15, 2005, would provide some additional TANF funds and waive certain program requirements for states affected by Katrina. That same day Senators Grassley and Baucus introduced S. 1716, which would expand upon provisions of H.R. 3672. This report will be updated.