I wish someone would tell us what actually went down here. Nah. It’s too engrossing not to speculate.
In FDR’s day this ended up being makework, which frankly is about the best that can be done in many cases. Even old occupations undergo reinvention and can evolve out from under a former master of them. Unless retraining is part of such packages, it sounds like grand moralization without any effective direction.
It’s better than giving them money while they sit at home and drink and get stoned and have a dozen out-of-wedlock children who become future welfare recipients.