Rethinking the safety net :

policy and research. Here, I focus on two. First, delivery of social service programs is very different from delivery of cash assistance programs. Whereas welfare or food stamp benefits can be delivered directly to recipients through the mail or an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, most social services cannot be mailed or delivered to an individual at home. Instead, clients typically visit a service agency, often several times, to receive assistance. Social service programs have a fundamentally local character and can vary more widely by place than we often realize. Poor individuals who do not live near relevant service providers may lack information about available services or may find it difficult to access programs. This may be particularly true for low-income populations with limited access to transportation. For these families, inadequate access to providers may be the equivalent to being denied social service aid.