<Begin Segment 11>

DG: Well, we talked about the fact that housing was a factor, but maybe we can talk more about that when you talk about resettlement in Seattle. But, what about welfare?

NS: Welfare in Spokane? There weren't too many people on welfare in Spokane as far as I knew. People had their own jobs or their own businesses, and there were a few people who came to Spokane, but I don't think they went on welfare. They took care of themselves and their families, and I don't think there was a welfare program as such.

DG: But, what did you think about welfare?

NS: Well, I think that if you, as a temporary measure, if you need it, why, you might as well have it and...

DG: Well, how did the Japanese community as a whole feel about welfare?

NS: The community as a whole looked down on people with welfare as to people that couldn't find a job, and a good many of them were ill and couldn't find a job that way. And they might have had temporary jobs, but because of their illness were laid off. There weren't too many people on welfare even at that time. I don't think there was any in Spokane, and after we came back to Seattle, I don't think there were as many. 'Course, the welfare people I took care of before the war were single men who were, who had worked in Alaska or some menial job and were ill and could no longer find a job; so those were the only people that were on welfare. And what welfare there was was administered by the (Japanese) chamber of commerce; all they did was give them some rice. [Laughs]

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.