If someone loses their home and is forced to live in their car, or to go to a shelter, do you think that they should be allowed to keep custody of their kids during this low point, or should they be put in foster care?

Obviously the kids should be safe & cared for but the whole family needs help, not punishment.

It's a tough call. On one hand, you do want to make sure the kids are well cared for. On the other hand, yanking them away from their families can be traumatic. It's one thing if the parents are a danger to the kids like addicts or abusers but financial hardships can hit anybody.

I think there needs to be some way to work out middle ground between "losing custody of your children" and having them live on the streets.

CeCe wrote:

Obviously the kids should be safe & cared for but the whole family needs help, not punishment.

If the family can't help out then foster care until that parent gets on their feet again.

CeCe wrote:

Obviously the kids should be safe & cared for but the whole family needs help, not punishment.

CeCe wrote:

Obviously the kids should be safe & cared for but the whole family needs help, not punishment.

Agreed.