Deploying government funds to encourage marriage has sparked heated debate. According to proponents, informing people of marriage’s long-term benefits, encouraging them to marry, and providing relationship tools will reduce poverty and family instability. According to critics, marriage promotion oversteps government’s bounds, could divert TANF funds to non-welfare programs, and detracts attention from a more pressing problem–early childbearing. Critics also question whether poor women will see economic gains and whether policy induced marriages might increase domestic violence among financially strapped couples.