Social programs, also known as welfare programs, help people meet their basic needs, such as nutrition, housing, health care, and financial assistance. Determining eligibility, applying and actually receiving assistance that people qualify for can be very difficult. This page centralizes resources that have been created through a Loras College class, Medicare and More. Through a grant funded by Uniservitate, CLAYSS, and PORTICUS, researchers and students have worked with local citizens to research and find the hidden barriers and opportunities in order to expand and more efficiently deliver aid to those who are qualified. The research design can be found on the Cultural Snapshots page, while the Focus Groups page provides the lessons and advice from those who have successfully navigated obtaining aid. Finally the SNAP, Medicaid and TANF pages provide specific information for accessing aid from those programs. Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Medicare and More classes conducted focus groups and created these aids.
Some examples of social programs include the following. Over time the course will work to add more individual guides for each program that is available to residents in Dubuque, Iowa.
*Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Offers food assistance benefits to low-income families and individuals. *See the SNAP page for information created by the class.
*Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Investment Program (TANF/FIP): Provides cash assistance to needy families as they become self-supporting so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives. *See the TANF page for information created by the class.
*Medicaid: A health insurance program for those with low incomes, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the disabled. *See the Medicaid page for information created by the class.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Head Start: Promotes school readiness for children under five from low-income families through education, social, and other services
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income or resources.
Social Security: A universal program that provides social security benefits for retirement, and disability
Medicare: A universal health insurance program that provides healthcare insurance for individuals 65 and older
Unemployment Insurance: A universal program that provides unemployment insurance
Housing Choice Voucher: Provides assistance to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market
Energy and Water Assistance: Provides assistance with utility payments
Local assistance can be found through Iowa Health and Human Services, Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa, Dubuque United Way, Dubuque Department of Health and Human Service, and City of Dubuque Housing Department.