The caseloads of food stamp program and welfare program experienced sharp drops among non-metropolitan single female-headed families with children (SFHFwC) after welfare reform in 1996. There is concern that leaving welfare program has led to nonparticipation in food stamp program due to multiple reasons. This study conducts an empirical analysis of non-metropolitan SFHFwC's participation in food stamp program and welfare program, using the 1993 and 1999 CPS data. Results from using reduced-form probit model, bivariate probit model and structural probit model are compared. The reduced-form probit model considers participation in both programs as functions of all exogenous variables. The bivariate probit model allows correlation between the participation in the two programs. The structural probit model considers participation in welfare as an endogenous variable of FSP participation. Empirical analysis is also conducted through the comparison across years and between southern and the remaining U.S. states. We found that welfare participation has a significant and positive impact on FSP participation. Households leaving welfare are more likely not to participate in FSP. Further, welfare participation is more important in determining FSP participation in 1999 than in 1993. Residence in South has a significant and negative impact in welfare participation in 1999, but has no significant impact on FSP participation in either year. Incomes and number of young children are the other major determinants of participation in both programs. Policy suggestions include improving economic situation to reduce FSP caseloads on one side, and providing more information about FSP eligibility to welfare leavers to ensure their food safety on the other side. / Master of Science

According to the State of the Nation’s Housing (Harvard, 2005) more than one in five homebuyers is a single woman and twice as many unmarried women as unmarried men are buying homes. Notably unmarried women make up more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership since 1994. The purpose of this study was to examine this cultural phenomenon. Utilizing an interpretative qualitative paradigm, in-depth interviews, social identity and reason action theories, this research explored the social, psychological, and symbolic meanings single, never-married, women in their 30s and 40s attributed to home buying as well as the design and purchasing behaviors they displayed. In an effort to create and refine the questionnaire for this research, a five participant pilot study was conducted in southwestern Virginia. The main body of this work consisted of 12 in-depth interviews and included six participants from southwestern Virginia, five participants from northern Virginia and one from western Pennsylvania. The average age of the participants was 39.5 years, with a range of 29 – 48 years. In total, 21 themes emerged in this study: 18 were strongly supported and mentioned by at least 50%, or six of the twelve, dissertation participants, while three received moderate support and were discussed by at least 25%, or three of the twelve, respondents. The themes were further divided into the following categories: behavioral themes which answer the question of the how women approach the buying process; behavioral themes which answer the question of what women buy, psychological themes which answer the question of why single women buy; social themes which promote a sense of security or stability; and social themes which promote a sense of isolation. The findings of this study can be used to enhance the residential construction industry and to assist housing professionals who routinely interact with female homebuyers. In addition, these findings suggest the continued need for home-buyer education and further research. / Ph. D.