Establishing Paternity Could Help Reduce Poverty
Establishing paternity can be a step to reducing poverty. Why? Statistics show that two working parents raise household income levels and therefore are better able to afford basic needs like shelter, food, and clothing.
How much money is necessary for meeting these simple requirements? Food alone can be $400 or more a month (for those of us who are NOT extreme couponers). Add in rent, thrift shop clothing, transportation to work, utilities, insurance–not to mention the childcare bill—and the monthly bills can seem overwhelming. At minimum wage, TWO paychecks are needed to make this formula work–and even then it could be a strain!
For a one-child household, the government considers them as living in “poverty” if income is less than $15,030 or $17,568 if there are two children. Remember…this is gross income. Establishing paternity gives a child a better chance of escaping the poverty point. Hopefully, the biological father will concede to paying child support or possibly the courts can order wage garnishment. In case you are wondering, the 2010 Census Bureau states that the average income of a two person family household is $72,751, while the average income of a single mother household is $32,031. It also stated that in 2010, there were 46.2 million people living in poverty.
Fathers are an important part of the family equation – not only for emotional support, love and guidance but for financial stability as well.