By not being the sole income earner. If their partner works a comparable job, suddenly youre looking at $25/hr which is perfectly comfortable in most areas.

That's just about surviving, and with both partners working. How do you have a family and any sense of security and health like that?

Lots of room/house mates, possibly to the point of illegality (that is, beyond the legal occupancy limit).

better to have the option of working for 12.5/hr than being forced to be unemployed.