You have to be a complete idiot (or a drugs-and-alcohol addled parasite) to go hungry, ill clad or homeless here.
Sad, but I think that's absolutely correct. With the raft of benefits and services, public and private, there's virtually no way you can go hungry in the U.S.
I'm also continually baffled by those in our society who seem to have no support network whatsoever -- no family, friends, church or other group to help our in times of need. Short of mental illness of chemical dependency, I just can't understand it.
I think it's mostly because of mental illness and chemical dependency. I have friends (who at this time are literally missionaries in Africa) who have tried to help the homeless. It's virtually impossible to bring them into your home. They want to stay up all night - are argumentative, drink, do drugs, smoke etc. Then complain because the only place left to them is an institution like a shelter.