51.   She knows the unyielding lime plastic chairs in the welfare office.

52.   Short of labor, employers have turned to welfare recipients, and welfare offices are working hard to supply them.

53.   She suspects that some are drawn to welfare offices after hearing that transportation, child care, job placement programs and other assistance can be found there.

54.   Shelter operators are paid for each night they house a person as long as that person is deemed eligible to receive welfare benefits by the local welfare office.

55.   She cited, as an example, consolidating welfare offices and slashing administrative costs.

56.   She quickly organized his application and appeared at the welfare office on his behalf.

57.   So she trekked to the local welfare office and signed up for food stamps.

58.   Some of those same women, says Jackson, now come to the Kent welfare office, still collecting a check.

59.   Still, for many poor people, whether on public assistance or not, the private neighborhood charity is a cozier refuge than the welfare office.

60.   Still, the message is clear, said one supervisor in a Queens welfare office, who spoke on condition of anonymity.