A family friend, a single mom of two small children, just got denied help from Tennessee's Families First, a program that is supposed to, among other things, help offset skyrocketing daycare costs for working families. This program is obviously huge because for lower-income people, the cost of daycare can be equal to or even more than what they make working a job.

For context, the father bailed and has done everything possible to avoid paying child support, even to the extreme of not working. He’s a useless loser, but our friend isn’t, or is trying not to be. She relies on her around $16/hour entry-level full-time job to pay rent, utilities, gas, car, vehicle maintenance, clothing, and other expenses (she does get some help for food and healthcare).

You would think this person would be a prime candidate for childcare help, especially since she is working full-time and genuinely trying to move up the income ladder and make good decisions after somewhat of a troubled past that includes some minor drug charges. That would be assuming the program’s creators meant for it to actually help people and not keep them in poverty. If you thought that, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

The stated reason this program turned her down (try not to laugh) is that she makes slightly more than the allowable net income........

© Townhall