South Korean Arirang TV: Prof. Collins Shares Expertise on the Impact Financial Assistance from City Governments Can Have on Young People
Prof. Mary Collins from BU School of Social Work spoke on a South Korean news program, News Gen, about the benefits that government financial assistance can have on young people. In 2016, Seoul launched a financial subsidy program providing 6 months of aid to young adults ages 19 to 34 who are actively seeking work opportunities. Collins analyzed the policy and shared her welfare expertise, noting how those subsidies can help young adults in cities with a high cost of living. She states that while some may discourage financial assistance over fears of exploiting the system, overall these subsidies provide a solid base for young adults to launch successful lives and careers long after the assistance period ends.
Watch the full interview
Excerpt from “Why Seoul City Is Giving Out Money to Its Youth,” originally posted on South Korean Arirang TV:
One can imagine how difficult it is to get a foothold in successful adulthood, if you are constantly scrambling to find a place to live, or taking any kind of job that comes along. It’s very hard to plan for a more stable future. Evidence suggests that people use these funds for housing, investment and education, and their basic needs, and that funds take care of some of the worries that would keep them from moving forward and attaining some goals.
The young adult years are really crucial and important for helping young people get on a good life trajectory, particularly in Boston but also in many of our large cities in the United States. If you don’t have a decent paying job, you cannot get housing and you cannot get higher education, so we would be consigning a whole lot of people to a life of poverty if we don’t provide some assistance in these early adult years.”