National Association of Social Workers member Ellen T. Kennedy wrote an editorial for the Buffalo News that said public and private agencies are needed to provide services to people in need.

“The bottom line is that we need both public and private efforts to meet the social welfare needs in our communities. The public programs are necessary to ensure that all people have access to the basics. We cannot expect wealthy individuals to provide for all the needy.”

Kennedy is associate professor of social work emerita at Buffalo State College.