Some of these people are poor and some of the poor are poor because they don't have self-control. When times get a little tough, these people, not all poor people but the ones who are poor because they can't control their emotions long enough to make a plan of any use, start to come unwound. Worse than helpless, they actually get in the way. If they were in an army under duress, they would be left behind at the first opportunity.
It's all a cycle. They were poor. Their parents were poor. It is tough to get out and teh govt doesn't help.