Relief in Illinois without Federal Aid

Abstract

A REVIEW of the administration of relief in Illinois since the Federal Emergency Relief Administration2 period gives some indication of present administrative problems and some evidence as to what extent the standards of relief and personnel and uniformity of administration established by the F.E.R.A. have been retained. Prior to 1932 the administration of relief was entirely the responsibility of the local authorities, with the state first appearing in the relief picture in February, 1932; after four years of federal grants (1932-35) responsibility was returned to the state and local authorities. Since this is true not only in Illinois but also in the other states and since the general assistance program is a long-time one, such a review should make available information which might facilitate public assistance planning. The new period began July 1, 1936, when Illinois adopted measures calculated to shift at least part of the financial burden of relief to the local subdivisions of the state. These laws3 transferred re-