I know a young mother that is struggling this year, financially and emotionally. She has three children, and she shares custody with an ex husband that abused her physically when they were married. She recently discovered that her son was being physically and emotionally abused by his father. Her son does not want to go back to see his father, because of the abuse. This same man has refused to pay child support, because his son will not come home to him. The judge will do nothing to this man, because this young mother cannot afford an attorney. She tried going to court on her own, from advice with legal aid. Legal aid has been no help to her. Without child support, she is now losing her car. That’s the only transportation she has. She’s trying to work her schedule to pick up her children from school and from therapy sessions that the judge required. Without her car, she’s again, pushed further down into a financial disaster. She did apply for food stamp help, but I understand those funds ran out this past week. I’m not a big advocate for welfare, but there are times when it’s all you have to keep from going hungry. She’s been able to hang onto her rental house for now.

I don’t understand why the court systems are so messed up today; perhaps they’ve always been that way. Why must you have an attorney, when you’re struggling just to put food on the table and a roof overhead?

I’m asking for your help and prayers for this family.