Poverty is not neglect - taking children away is neglect

I knew a family who struggled for two years because their septic stopped working and they didn't have the money to fix it.

For two years they shook in their boots. For two years they lived in fear that someone would find out their secret. Not because they didn't love their kids. Not because they weren't good parents. Because they couldn't afford to repair their home, and they were scared they would lose their kids for it.

They should never have had to live like that.

A broken septic is not a reason to take children away. A house that needs repair is not a reason to destroy a family.

CPS should have a special fund for this. A fund for families who need to repair their septic, who need to fix their roof, who need to make their home safe but just don't have the money in that moment.

Instead of investigating them and threatening to take their kids, help them fix what is broken.

Poverty isn't neglect. A family asking for help to repair their home is showing they care. They are trying to keep their kids safe.

We pay foster parents to house these children. Why won't we help parents pay to repair the house they already have?

Give families the money to fix their homes. Keep families together where they belong.