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Caseload Numbers
For the purposes of this report, the following statistics focus on families receiving cash assistance. In December of 1997, there were a total of 15,277 cash grant cases in Hennepin County; 11,559 (76 percent) of which lived in Minneapolis. The neighborhoods with the largest concentrations are in northeast and central sections of Minneapolis.
The number of cash grant cases generally increased during the 1980s and first half of the 1990s; however significant declines in caseloads began in 1995 and continued in 1996 and 1997. Hennepin County follows the national trend in cash grant caseloads, with a decline of seven percent in 1995, 11 percent in 1996 and 18 percent in the first half of 1996.
The total Hennepin County caseload was:
- 19,055 in December 1995;
- 17,803 in December 1996; and;
- 15,277 in December 1997.
These numbers reflect declines of seven percent from 1995 to 1996 and another 16.5 percent from 1996 to 1997.
Similar declines occurred in Minneapolis. The total Minneapolis caseload was:
- 13,837 in December 1995,
- 13,315 in December 1996, and
- 11,599 in December 1997.
These numbers reflect declines of four percent from 1995 to 1996 and an additional 15 percent from 1996 to 1997.
Basic Demographic Characteristics
The following statistics are current as of December 1997, and represent Hennepin County families (cases) receiving cash grants.
- 95 percent of participants are female;
- The average age of participants is 31 years;
- 35 percent of participants do not have a high school degree;
- The average number of children is two;
- 12 percent of participants have a first language other than English, with the largest groups being Somali (3.6 percent) and Hmong (3.4 percent);
- Most adults (64 percent) receiving cash grant assistance have never been married, 25 percent are married, and 9 percent are divorced
- The vast majority of people receiving cash grant assistance were not employed prior to full implementation of MFIP: 38 percent of MFIP participants and 13 percent of AFDC participants were employed as of February, 1998.
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