The child is dirty, hungry, wearing torn and smelly clothes, and is allowed to aimlessly wander the neighborhood at night and go into strangers' homes. This sounds more like a police matter than an etiquette issue. I really wish that the woman hadn't made her identity known to that man because now it will be next to impossible for her to report this anonymously without fear of retribution from this nutcase duddy and perhaps even by the absentee moomie as well. If he's investigated and cleared, he will still be living nearby and be pissed off. If he is investigated and jailed, then he will be out on bail in no time flat and madder than a hornet. If the kyd is taken away then he will very likely blame the OP, like Cambion said. This man could be a lazy bum OR he could be an abusive psycho and he knows who this woman is, who her kyd is, where they live and where her kyd goes to school. If it were me, I think that I would remain silent and keep my nose out of it for a few weeks,
then call and report it anonymously. By that time the heat will be off as far as her recent contact with the man and he won't know WHO called. My fear for myself and my famblee's safety would over ride my concern for this kyd. She's managed to survive until she is six years of age, so a few more weeks shouldn't do much more harm. Besides, why don't her teachers do something I wonder?