You are so right, this idea that food stamps (or any monetary assistance alone) will somehow elevate a criminal to a higher moral standard is ridiculous.
What they want is this: food stamps to buy their groceries so they can use their ready cash for beer and cigs. I never could have even imagined that until I saw it with my own eyes. And they have no shyness about it either!
The shame of relying on public assistance has long since passed. It has become a perfectly acceptable lifestyle.