A couple of thoughts...
Many have no aspiration for more... what I mean is if does not come easy.
The comment on parents raising grandkids is spot on... most failed miserably as parents and now they are at it again with their Grandkids... it is having dependants that opens the door to assistance for most... the exception being the disabled.
My only point to differ is the homes I managed were indistinguishable from those not on assistance... in other words they were single family with green lawns, well maintained and often were the nicest on the block...
Had a conversation not that long ago with a neighbor... he came over to ask me for a price to be his landscaper... had no idea I was the property owner and the family living there for many years was Section 8... actually was flabbergasted... this is a home that would sell today for 500k
As the Section 8 program has changed I no longer accept it and have not had a new family in over 12 years... only 1 in 5 new Voucher Holders is able to secure housing... so 80% don't here in my Bay Area City.
The program started as a three way partnership owner, family and Housing Authourity... over the years citing losses and the amount of staff time required to administer the program has shifted all responsibility for the tenant to the owner and many owners have left the program.
Managing low income has certainly opened my eye to a lot of things I would have never been exposed to... it also has been an eye opener for small owners that want to offer a hand up only to get burned.
Landlords don't get a pass as many have also become adept at the system... as in furnishing appliances for inspection and they carting them off after or taking money under the table which is never ends well because the tenant owns you.
I still think many would still be amazed how well a family can live when tapped into all the programs out there and many times the neighbors are none the wiser.
One of my good friends raised 4 daughters and had an infirmed mother in law living with them for decades... he worked for the phone company... 3 girls shared a room... horror of horrors... this would never be allowed had the family been on assistance.
Over the years the assistance provided can be over millions of dollars... makes me wonder who really is the smart one... the guy that pays his own way through life of the one that works the system to have all of life necessities and more hand delivered.
One way to fix this is to have everyone paying into the system... no matter how small.
