Dynamics of Material Hardship in the Women's Employment Study

This paper addresses how common are experiences of material hardship over time within a sample of clients on welfare, and if women experience multiple hardships. Based on the Women's Employment Study, this study reviews six forms of hardship including food insufficiency, telephone disconnection, utility disconnection, unmet medical needs, improper winter clothing, and housing problems. The author concludes that women were likely to experience multiple forms of hardship during the transition from welfare to work.