Clinton largely fixed US welfare. You can get it only if you are a single parent, and then it phases out over 5 years. I know someone with 5 kids who works several jobs since her welfare expired. The gravy train has (mostly) left the station.
Charity is another story. An acquaintance of mine opened her trunk to reveal a bunch of rotting perishables. A friend of hers had picked the lot up at a food bank, all for free. She forgot to unload the groceries, so sorry, too inconvenient to retrieve, told my acquaintance to throw them out. She’ll go get another free load. Included were two pre-made cut-in-half turkey & swiss sandwiches, complete with napkin, the kind that cost $US 4 that you could make yourself for under $1. This situation is the norm I think. I’ve never met anyone who used a food bank who wasn’t obviously abusing the privilege.
Every year around Thanksgiving the director of the now-mega food bank in my state pleads for donations, claiming dire ever-increasing need, even when the economy was going gangbusters! HELLO FOOD BANK DIRECTOR, YOU’RE GIVING AWAY FREE FOOD. Of course the “need” will increase!
There’s a couple in Seattle who feeds the homeless gourmet meals weekly. I read today that a spa for the homeless opened in Chicago. Free pedicures, manicures, etc. But only if you don't pay rent!
The Seattle city council recently debated whether to give housing subsidies for teachers, so they can afford to live where they teach. An audience member raised the obvious question: “What about me, I make the same as a teacher and I work just as hard. Why should only teachers be subsidized?”
And still HUD will cover that if you have to have it. I know a nice place in my town that rents for 300 bucks 2 bedrooms and kitchen. 