I was functionally homeless for 9 years. Food stamps in America are inconvenient as they aren't accepted everywhere, come with strings attached as to purposes, are a way for others to other their users, require onerous paperwork and blasé treatment like a criminal, and are most often insufficient, especially in big cities and Southern states.

Direct cash aid is little-to-nonexistent because of the cynical and discriminatory presumptions "people should work (even if they're disabled)" and "they'll just buy booze and drugs with it".