Impact of the Great Recession on Social Assistance Programs in the Eau Claire Area

Abstract

The economic downturn of 2008-09 was so severe that it has become known as The Great Recession and by most accounts the subsequent recovery has been slow to non-existent. National data reflects a continuing demand for social assistance programs. This suggests that, despite a modest recovery based on labor market measures such as employment and unemployment rates, there seems to be a continuing need for social assistance. This study presents data from a variety of local sources illustrating this prolonged hardship and strain on social service programs in the Chippewa Valley.