Feeding the truly poor is a role that local govt can perform...if it weren’t so bogged down in spending on other nonsense.
In colonial times, taxes were about 5%, and the hungry were fed. Our tax dollars go to such un-Constitutional nonsense now that we can’t perform that function at the local level.
Local gov’t would have the same “know your clients” advantage as the local churches would.
“You’re a deadbeat, you can work, but you show up here every week with your hand out. Get a job, loser.”