It has been worse, much worse. I have no reference to back this up, it comes from my father who was a devout FDR hater and recollections of others from his era.
The Great Depression was much worse. People would walk from farm to farm and ask to work just for food and to sleep in the barn - no pay was expected.
Land was so worthless a farmer traded a quarter (160 acres)
of land for a wedding ring for his new bride.
Socialists were everywhere preaching their line of crap.
In the early 30’s WWI vets protesting were shot at by the active army and some were killed.
City people out of work had no money, were undernourished, poorly clothed and lived in shanty towns similar to what you see today as refugee camps in Africa.
Socialism was actively practiced by Farmers Union and they actually had communes, little cookie cutter homes workers could live in, and a central exchange where they got their goodies. Where I live there is still much hatred of Farmers Union, which is now called CENEX (acronym for central exchange)
One of my uncles told me that during the Depression it was a common practice to go into a restaurant and order a cup of free hot water and stir in some ketchup. Voila! Tomato soup.