Things were very different when the towns each managed their own public relief effort. Relief was for a limited time. Just long enough to get a family back on its feet. It was a hand UP not a hand OUT. Each town had a board made up of volunteer citizens who managed the effort.
There were strict rules. No alcohol or tobacco products allowed. Only raw food items (unprocessed) to be purchased to make meals. No candy. A garden was a requirement. The father must obtain and hold a job(s) with sufficient salary to care for his family.
The citizens board visited each public relief family regularly and unannounced to ensure compliance. Once a family was on its feet, they paid pack the town for their public relief costs, although only a portion - so as not bankrupt the family.
Public relief had been very successful for many generations when it was managed locally - but became a disaster after the State took control. The family I mentioned at the start always had food even when regular working-folks did not. They always had a better car than most townspeople.
We drove past their home and saw the father and several family members sitting on their asses smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol - day after day. By this point the family was on their 2nd generation of welfare, with more babies coming.
My mother was disgusted with the outcome.
