What are some barriers to seeking assistance?
Many rural residents may hesitate to seek assistance because of a strong belief in the necessity of handling personal problems themselves. Local agencies and community-based organizations may find that in order to get the word out, they may have to invest time and effort on extensive outreach. Agencies providing benefits may want to consider increasing the use of electronic benefits transfer to help clients overcome the stigma associated with receiving public assistance. In many rural communities, residents must travel far from home to access support programs. The Workforce Investment Act requires several programs to be partners in the one-stop delivery system. One-stop centers incorporate various program offices in a single location. TANF is a suggested partner, and states can require TANF to be a partner. Many one-stop centers also accept applications for food stamps and Medicaid and provide information about programs operated by community-based organizations and other providers. Age
