Low-income Single Parents Research Articles

On the optimal reform of income support for single parents

We characterize the optimal reform of U.S. income support for low-income single parents using a life-cycle heterogeneous agent model with idiosyncratic risk and incomplete asset markets. We use the U.S. tax-transfer system as the benchmark policy and a sample of single mothers drawn from the CPS to assess reforms that maximize average expected utility among single mothers-to-be. When policy cannot be tagged by the age of the children, the optimal reform calls for an increase in out-of-work income support by about 15 percent, and a decrease in earnings subsidies to low-wage workers by roughly 50 percent. This reform delivers substantial welfare gains. Tagging policy by the age of the children makes the government’s trade-off between providing insurance to single mothers with children of pre-school age, on the one hand, and providing work incentives to those with school-age children, on the other hand, more favorable, thus increasing their scope for smoothing marginal utility throughout the life cycle. With tagging, mothers of pre-school age children get a substantial increase in out-of-work income support and no earnings subsidies. Tagging brings additional welfare gains.

“When We Do Evict Them, It’s a Last Resort”: Eviction Prevention in Social and Affordable Housing

ABSTRACT Evictions are a common contributing factor to homelessness and are experienced overwhelmingly by vulnerable populations, including low-income households, single parents, and minority groups. At the same time, social and affordable housing providers serve increasingly vulnerable populations. Although all evictions are potentially problematic, those that occur in social and affordable housing can carry particularly severe consequences. Little research exists on evictions in social and affordable housing, and there is even less on eviction prevention practices in this sector. This project seeks to fill this research gap by exploring emerging eviction prevention practices in social and affordable housing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Our findings show that evictions are a complicated process for both tenants and housing providers, and most commonly occur because of rent arrears. Housing providers try to prevent evictions, and toward this end, they have adopted four broad eviction prevention practices, centered on financial management, regular communication with tenants, provision of tenant supports, and community development. However, housing providers are often constrained in their ability to prevent evictions, in particular by human resource and financial limitations. These challenges lead to complex negotiations between housing providers’ social mandates to provide affordable housing to vulnerable households and their regulatory and operational environments.

Distributional effects of carbon taxation in passenger transport with lump-sum offset: low income households, retirees and families would benefit in Germany

BackgroundThe introduction of a carbon tax on passenger transport is currently being discussed in Germany. Various stakeholders favour a consumption-based, revenue-neutral carbon tax with a uniform lump-sum offset for private households and a tax rate of 40 € per ton of CO2.ObjectiveIn this study, we examine the distributional effects of carbon taxation for the German passenger transport sector under the assumption of the proposed tax model. We discuss as to what extent which socioeconomic groups would be burdened and who might even benefit from carbon taxation. To answer these questions we use a uniquely modelled data set that encompasses all forms of passenger transport (i.e. in Germany and abroad) of the German resident population over 1 year. The national household travel survey Mobility in Germany 2017 is the basis of the microscopic data set. We derive annual CO2 emissions and carbon tax burdens for various population groups using the data on passenger transport, as well as specific emission factors.ResultsResults show that low income households, retirees, single parents and family households with two or more children would benefit from the proposed carbon taxation scheme due to below-average emissions per person; in contrast, working age households without children and car owners with heavy car use would be burdened. Our results are of particular relevance to transport researchers, transport politicians and decision makers as a basis for designing, developing and introducing a carbon taxation scheme.

Housing Workers’ Evaluations of Residential Environmental Quality in South Korean Welfare Housing for Low-Income, Single-Parent Families

This study evaluates the spatial conditions of the residential environment in welfare housing built for low-income, single-parent (LISP) families in South Korea to reveal the significant residential environmental (RE) design criteria concerning housing quality and family well-being. The primary data were analyzed by surveying 30 housing directors from 29 welfare residences, in conjunction with facility visits and interviews. The survey data were supplemented by interviewing 11 stakeholders, including government institute officials, project architects, and former residents who exited the program. A statistical analysis examined the RE quality in relation to building and resident features. Most respondents reported insufficient physical quality, specifically due to inappropriate units in size and number; poor indoor noise control; and substandard unit rooms, children’s rooms, and outdoor spaces. Furthermore, adequate rooms, family privacy, and a pleasant indoor environment (i.e., noise barrier, thermal comfort) were the most critical spatial design criteria. Particularly, the aforementioned housing environmental attributes were found to be different depending on a building’s construction year and type, householder type and age, and children’s age. Practical and methodological implications and future research directions are discussed to elevate the housing quality and sustainable well-being in welfare housing.

Food as a discretionary item: the impact of welfare payment changes on low-income single mother’s food choices and strategies

Recent changes to Australia's welfare system have affected low-income single parent families, with many moved on to an employment seeker's payment (a reduced payment) when the policy change made them ineligible for a family payment. To explore the impacts of this policy change, in-depth interviews were conducted with 23 low-income single mothers across Australia. This paper focuses on the health and wellbeing impacts of the decreased payment on food choices and behaviours. This study suggests that food had become an expense that could be tightly managed, limited, or foregone for these families.

Life on newstart allowance: a new reality for low-income single mothers

ABSTRACTIn recent years, significant policy changes have been made to Australian welfare benefits for single parent families. These changes include the addition of work requirements and changes to the eligibility requirements for family payments. This paper explores the most recent welfare payment change for low-income single parents in 2013, whereby a change in eligibility requirements has seen many move from the Parenting Payment Single (PPS) to Newstart Allowance, a decreased fortnightly payment with a stricter income test. Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with women who had recently experienced this payment change. All of the women were already struggling financially on the PPS, with the shift to Newstart Allowance further exacerbating their precarious financial position. This paper focuses on the financial impacts, the need to prioritise expenses and women’s capacity to make up the financial shortfall since moving off the PPS. This paper adds to the existing literature exploring the impacts of welfare policy change on single parent families.

Qualitative Research on the Life and Development Strategy as Children of Low-income Single Parents

Qualitative Research on the Life and Development Strategy as Children of Low-income Single Parents

A Shot in the Arm: How to Improve Vaccination Policy in Canada

Recent outbreaks of measles in many parts of Canada draw attention to the importance of vaccination policy design, especially for children. Most Canadian provinces fail to meet national immunization targets for key diseases, and coverage ratios among children in a few provinces, where data are well kept and up-to-date, are falling over time. If immunization coverage continues to fall, more vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and people with medical conditions that may prevent them from being immunized, will be put at risk. Arguably, the general societal expectation in Canada is that people will get vaccinated, but barriers to access and the complexity of the decision mean that parents without a family physician, those in low income households, single parents and new arrivals in Canada are likely to not immunize or just partially immunize their children. Some parents may be active objectors to immunization, and policymakers must be careful to avoid alienating them or driving them away from the system. Most, however, appear not to immunize their children not because they actively object to vaccines, but because of barriers to access, complacency, or procrastination. Those parents are the focus of this paper, and we argue should be a focus of Canadian immunization policy. In this Commentary, we take a particularly close look at policies in Ontario, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador. Alberta and Ontario are relatively large provinces with different policy approaches to vaccination delivery, one focused on early interventions and the other on making immunization decisions mandatory in schools. Both models have their advantages, but neither province has reached national vaccination coverage targets. Newfoundland and Labrador has a policy design similar to Alberta’s, but some of the highest vaccination coverage in Canada. Despite the success of Newfoundland and Labrador’s vaccination policies, we do not think that there is a one-size-fits-all solution for all provinces because the characteristics of populations are different across and within provinces. That said, some basic principles of a good policy framework are explored in this paper, including the requirement for parents to make a vaccination decision, the early collection of data, access to vaccines, scope of practice, and how information is presented to new parents. We believe that well-designed vaccination policies could reach national targets while still accommodating choice. We argue that a key policy step, in provinces where needed, is to track immunization status from birth to better identify vulnerable regions in the event of an outbreak and better remind parents of the importance of immunization. Comprehensive registries at birth could help to coordinate subsequent parental reminders to immunize, and allow health officials to provide the information most relevant to parents. Further, we suggest reforms that ensure getting immunized is as easy as possible and that new parents be strongly encouraged to make a vaccination decision.

Study on low income single-parents' case management service use experience

Study on low income single-parents' case management service use experience

Social Network Development among Low-Income Single Mothers: Potential for Bridging, Bonding, and Building

Social capital has been increasingly recognized as a valuable resource for people throughout society but is often left of discussions about low-income families. Social capital includes networks, connections, information, trust, and norms of reciprocity that are shared by groups of connected people (Bourdieu & Wacquant, 1992; Brisson & Usher, 2005; Woolcock, 1998). The recognition that social capital may represent an important component of social mobility for low-income families represents a shift from the view that moving of poverty requires cutting ties and moving away from kin and community (Belle, 1983; Dodson, 1999; Rainwater, 1970).Putnam (2000) explored the benefits of collective social capital for society and individuals. He divided social capital into bridging and bonding, attributing this conceptual distinction to Gittell and Vidal (1998). According to this framework, bonding social networks are networks of people who are similar. Such networks offer connections and support among homogenous groups. Bridging social networks help connect people to others outside their ordinary day-to-day activities. These diverse networks encourage interaction outside the community (Brisson & Usher, 2005; Gittell & Vidal, 1998; Putnam, 2000).Poverty scholars studying social capital in low-income families also identify these two distinct social networks that provide different kinds of gains. However, in the past, scholars focused on the cost of maintaining bonding social networks in low-income communities (Belle, 1983; Riley & Eckenrode, 1986). Within the framework of social mobility attainment, the responsibilities of maintaining this social network can be seen as a barrier to individual progress (Dominguez & Watkins, 2003; Riley & Eckenrode, 1986; Stack, 1974). A cultural focus on autonomy and individual success contrasts with the idea that low-income women may benefit from forming networks and gaining social mobility in tandem (Dominguez & Watkins, 2003; Nelson, 2000; Sanyal, 2009). Others claim that social support within low-income communities is not as prevalent as it once was (Roschelle, 1997).In this article we examine qualitative data from an antipoverty program designed to support the economic and career advancement of low-income single parents. The program fostered the development of social networks that emerged among the participants over a 3-year period. Researchers conducted annual in-depth interviews as part of a qualitative program assessment. Our investigation examined the obstacles these single parents encountered in their daily lives and the supports that were the most helpful in responding to them. Social networks emerged as a dominant theme early in the interview process. In this article, we examine the data on social networks that emerged from the interviews using the following research questions: (a) What types of social networks emerged in this setting? and (b) How did these networks affect the daily lives of participants?Social Networks Generate Social CapitalSocial networks are broadly viewed as an important way of generating social capital and enabling economic development and social mobility (Briggs, 1998; Portes, 2000; Putnam, 1995). Scholars have utilized the concept of social capital in the areas of education and child welfare to assess predictors of youth delinquency and success (Furstenberg & Hughes, 1995; Kahne & Bailey, 1999). Some business and organizational literature also analyzes the impact of social capital (networking) on employment success (Fernandez, Castilla, & Moore, 2000; George & Chaze, 2009; Leana & Van Buren, 1999). However, there is surprisingly little literature focused on social capital building in low-income communities in the United States. The lack of studies may reflect the notion that to succeed, poor people need to move up and out of the community. Dominguez and Watkins (2003) examined social networks among African American and F afin American low-income mothers and found social support and social leverage networks could enable social mobility. …

The Effect of Satir Family Sculpture Technique for Low-income Single-Parents' Female

The Effect of Satir Family Sculpture Technique for Low-income Single-Parents' Female

STATE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS AND PARTICIPATION IN REGULAR AND INFORMAL WORK

This paper examines how low-income single parents alter their regular and informal labor supply in response to the earned income tax credit (EITC). Variation in state EITCs from 1997–2005 identifies changes in informal and regular labor supply of unmarried low-income parents in response to tax credits. The informal-sector participation of single fathers declines by 7.3 percentage points, conditional on working in the regular sector, if a state EITC increases by 10 percent of the federal credit. Regular-sector hours worked per week increase by 4.5 hours and informal-sector hours per week fall by 2.2 hours with no significant effect on total hours.

The Effect of Group Program for the Improvement of Communication of Low-Income Female Single Parents': Center on V. Satir's theory of growth model

The Effect of Group Program for the Improvement of Communication of Low-Income Female Single Parents': Center on V. Satir's theory of growth model

Increasing Employment Stability and Earnings for Low-Wage Workers - Lessons from the Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) Project

Many recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other low-income individuals find or keep jobs for a while, but far fewer remain steadily employed and advance in the labor market. The Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) project was launched in 1999 to identify and determine the effectiveness of different program strategies designed to promote employment stability and earnings growth among current or former welfare recipients and other low-income individuals. The study was conceived and funded by the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; supplemental support was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, and the evaluation was conducted by MDRC.Using random assignment research designs, ERA tested 16 different program models in eight states and estimated effects over a three- to four-year follow-up period. The focus of this synthesis is primarily on the 12 programs that targeted more employable groups, as opposed to harder-to-employ groups, such as individuals with known disabilities. Three of these 12 programs produced consistent increases in individuals’ employment retention and advancement, and the others did not. The project points to some strategies that succeeded in improving retention and earnings among low-income single parents and provides some lessons. Key ones include: Supporting employment stability is likely to be a more effective strategy than encouraging job stability — that is, staying employed in the same job. Earnings supplements, tied to job retention and that help to make low-wage work pay, ideally coupled with job coaching, can promote sustained employment and advancement. By themselves, counseling and referrals to services to help people stay employed do not appear to increase employment retention and advancement.Although the ERA project found that some strategies can improve low-income individuals’ employment and earnings, the improvements were not transformational. The majority of the programs tested did not improve participants’ retention and advancement, and most sample members remained poor or near-poor at the end of the study. Much is left to learn about how best to foster upward mobility for the millions of low-wage workers across the nation and lift them and their families out of poverty.

State Earned Income Tax Credits and Participation in Regular and Informal Work

This paper examines how low-income single parents alter their regular and informal labor supply in response to the EITC. Variation in state EITCs from 1997–2005 identifies changes in informal and regular labor supply of unmarried low-income parents in response to tax credits. Single fathers’ informal-sector participation declines by 7.3 percentage points, conditional on working in the regular sector, if a state EITC increases by 10 percent of the federal credit. Regular-sector hours worked per week increase by 4.5 and informal-sector hours per week fall by 2.2 with no significant effect on total hours.

Dietary Habits and Nutrition Knowledge of Children Using Community Food Service Centers according to Family Type

The objective of this study was to assess dietary habits and nutrition knowledge of elementary school students who use community food-service centers according to family type. The subjects were comprised of 147 individuals in lowincome households, aged from 7 to 12 years, and who consumed free meals at community welfare centers or at local children’s centers in Seoul and Kyunggi-do, Korea. Dietary habits and dietary intake were obtained using 24-hr recall. Children in low-income single parent families skipped breakfast more frequently than children in low-income married parent families. No difference in nutrition intake or dietary habits was observed between children in low-income single parent families and children in low-income married parent families. More interest and financial support of the govern ment are required to develop nutrition education and food assistance programs for children in low-income single parent families. (Korean J Nutr 2011; 44(3): 255 ~ 263)

The Impact of Child Care Subsidies on Low-Income Single Parents: An Examination of Child Care Expenditures and Family Finances

Evidence regarding the degree to which child care subsidies support low-income, employed parents’ financial resources is lacking. This study used two samples to evaluate the impact of child care subsidies on parents’ child care payments and the percentage of household income spent on child care. Cross-sectional and longitudinal multivariate models were supplemented with descriptive information on parents’ perceptions of the impacts of child care costs and child care subsidies on family finances. Child care subsidies were found to reduce child care costs by a small but statistically significant amount. Approximately half of parents who received a subsidy reported that it positively affected their financial well-being, allowing them to afford non-child care services, save money, and pay bills or debts.

Discrepancy between expected and actual child support payments: predicting the health and health‐related quality of life of children living in low‐income, single‐parent families

Although the amount and frequency of child support payments received by single parents are often erratic and fluctuate, no study to date has quantitatively explored how the discrepancy between expected and actual payments relates to child health. This study aims to examine whether the discrepancy between expected and actual child support payments predicts a range of child health outcomes, including global health, health-related quality of life, involvement in activities and parental psychological distress. This study used results from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, which included a sample of parents of children aged 4-5 years (n = 4983). The questionnaire was completed by the parent who spent the most time with the child and knew the child best. From the 4983 families, 332 low-income single parents reliant on welfare with a formal or informal child support order in place were identified. After controlling for income, the discrepancy between expected and actual child support predicted school functioning, conduct problems, total mental health problems and involvement in activities. Discrepancy between expected and actual child support payments did not predict the remaining health-related quality of life domains, mental health domains, global child health or parental psychosocial distress. This was the first study to examine how the discrepancy between expected and actual child support payments relates to child health, providing important data on the effectiveness of the child support system for children's well-being. These findings highlight the potential impact of the discrepancy on school functioning, conduct problems, total mental health problems and involvement in activities.

How Children with Special Health Care Needs Affect the Employment Decisions of Low-Income Parents

To better understand the impact of having a child with special health care needs (CSHCN), on low-income parents' employment decisions. Using data from the 1999 and 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we estimate multivariate statistical regressions (logit and tobit models) to estimate the relationship between having a CSHCN and the likelihood of employment and hours of employment for a sample-of low-income single parents. Controlling for differences in demographic and family characteristics, we find no significant association between having a CSHCN and the probability of work or the number of hours worked among low-income single-parent families. Separate analysis of different dimensions of special health care needs shows that parents of children with activity limitations are significantly less likely to work and work fewer hours. This result does not hold true for the group of children defined based on elevated or special service use, or for the group of children with specific chronic conditions. These results indicate that only a specific subset of children with special needs present difficulties for low-income parents' work. This suggests that policies to help low-income single parents of children with disabilities move into work should target this specific subset of children with special health care needs.

Diverse Adaptations of Single Parent, Low-Income Families with Young Children

SUMMARY Distinct family caregiving structures among low-income single parent families were identified. The relationships between these structures and family needs, social resources and family functioning were described. Unmarried low-income, primarily African-American mothers whose children were enrolled in community-based early childhood programs were interviewed. While global measures of functioning or distress were unrelated to type of family caregiving structure, there were significant differences with respect to specific sources of stress or conflict, stability of the caregiving structure across time, and perceived sources of primary support. Implications of these findings are discussed with respect to planning community-based services that build upon and strengthen family competencies.