Between the summers of 1986 and 1987, the Coalition on Human Needs interviewed 202 low income people to learn about their experiences with employment, education, their families, and various government programs. The interviewees showed a higher level of participation in the paid labor force than was predicted. According to those interviewed, the most important thing the government can do is to ensure that jobs are available. Most of the jobs that poor people now hold are the most marginal in terms of security, pay, benefits, and opportunity for advancement. Persons interviewed made wide use of the 15 cash benefit programs and 22 service oriented programs about which they were questioned. No single program, however, could be considered a total solution for everyone or any single family. Fifty-eight percent said they needed education, training, or both to obtain the kind of jobs they wanted or needed to support their families. Responses related to jobs and training varied somewhat in emphasis from place to place. Regional studies of the following areas are discussed: (1) Northeastern North Carolina; (2) Aliquippa, Pennsylvania; (3) San Antonio, Texas; and (4) Washington, D.C. Recommendations included increased job and training opportunities, increased public assistance and changes in processing applicants and delivering benefits, better enforcement of child support laws, and crisis management training for caseworkers. (BJV)