I don't know where that lady's kids' dad is, but I'll tell you where many are: fathers who were once attentive about paying child support are now jobless themselves and unable to pay. Others are doing what fathers did in the 1930s: they're travelling around unsuccessfully looking for work.
In some cases people do not wish to leave a particular area because doing so would mean leaving their children with an ex. In some cases (like mine) people can't leave because we're legally required to keep a child within reasonable distance of the other parent, and yet the other parent can't assume custody.
My daughter’s situation as well. She had a good job and had been with the company for 10 yrs.
Just after she went to work for them a Canadian company bought them. They had small layoffs every year which she was lucky enough to dodge. Then in March 2009 they had their last layoff (a big one)and she got the hammer.
The week after that her divorce became final. She can’t leave the state because she shares custody of her 4 yr old son.
She was unable to find a job by the time August rolled around so she went back to school to become a Respiratory Therapist. Has one year under her belt.