I would describe poor as having to live in a dangerous, crime infested neighborhood. Living in fear doesn’t compensate for the xbox, free lodging, free food, and free cellphone.
If a popular criminal gets arrested the local public housing may erupt in riots complete with racist connotations galore. The local authorities feel obligated to rein in the LEOs. The local authorities do not want to be lite up as racist. Everything is back to normal in the ghetto.