Utilizing government assistance programs to make ends meet for working families, which our country is now doing at record rates, is unsustainable. Companies should have a reasonable measure of choice in deciding wages, however, in re-framing that choice through the tax code, we could put all of America on a more sustainable path.
Allow companies to make the choice: employ a minimum of 75% of workers full time; pay them a living wage for one adult for the zip code in which they are employed; and pay part-time workers equivalent wages based on the number of hours they work; or choose to pay a "social support" tax, recognizing that the wages provided do not meet basic needs for the area and the tax payers will be picking up the tab.
Families can take personal responsibility from there.