AbstractsSocial Work

Families in debt : a study of the cases of a family agency from 1942-1948.

by Viva. Murphy




Institution: McGill University
Department: School of Social Work.
Degree: Master of Social Work.
Year: 1949
Keywords: Social Work.
Record ID: 1482734
Full text PDF: http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/thesisfile124505.pdf


Abstract

Relief giving is a major function of most family Weifare Agencies. Even where governments provide social security measures through Public Welfare, relief from such sources is seldom adequate, if we define adequate relief as “That which Covers the deficit existing between the budget and the family earnings and what relatives give.” Where relief is given through private agencies it is rarely adequate to meet the full needs of a family or individual. This inadequacy is associated with a large problem which clients bring to the attention of the agency, that of indebtedness. They only ask for help with indebtedness when the situation is beyond their ability to cope with it, or when it has become acute, usually through threatened action on the part of a creditor.[...]