When you look around the world at countries that have low rates of poverty, particularly for single mothers, they have high rates of labour force participation. That's why I think that while we want women and men to be able to take care of their children, the most important poverty-fighting measure we can have for women is keeping their feet in the labour market when they have small children. That's why child care and maternity benefits are so important. When you're on maternity leave you maintain your relationship with your employer, and you maintain your income.
I also agree that the federal government could provide leadership and direct funding in the area of housing. In the Scandinavian countries, rather than having welfare or social assistance programs, they have housing programs. That means that when people are working at low incomes they also get support and are less likely to need to go on social assistance. There's a greater gap between social assistance and working at a low wage. I would be in favour of a housing program.