Over the last decade, the number of two parent households has decreased significantly to the point that nearly 1 in 3 children live without a father and over 5 million live without a mother.

In comparison, in 1960 just 11 percent of American children lived in homes without fathers.

The problem is especially severe in low-income areas of major cities. In southeast Washington D.C. only 1 in 10 children live with both parents. Almost 85% of children live with only their mother. There is a tremendous disparity with income as well; two parent households average $80,000 a year versus $24,000 for single mothers.

Vincent DiCaro, the vice president of the National Fatherhood Initiative said “dealing with absent fathers” could solve the problem.

“People look at a child in need, in poverty or failing in school and ask ‘what can we do to help?’” DiCaro told the Washington Times. “We ask ‘why does that child need help in the first place?’ The answer is often because [the child has no] responsible and involved father.”