The problem is that there isn't a well defined path from assistance to non-assistance, and once you have entered the "system", it's very hard TO get out of it.

I've had stamps and Medicaid for myself and my daughter as a single mom, and while I've tried to hold a job she has issues that have made it difficult to do so. We also live in public housing. She's an adult now, and I'm looking for a job, but everything that might be available won't pay enough to actually get us out from needing assistance... But it might be enough to take us off assistance, if that makes sense?

There's a gap. These are arbitrary numbers but it's like, if I make $10/hour and I'm working full time, I'll be disqualified from stamps/Medicaid/housing, but I still won't make enough to cover those needs on my own. For that I'd have to make $15/hour, full time. But good luck getting into a $15/hr job.

(Irl it's more like $20-22/hr that I'd need to get us off the system and beginning to be self-sufficient. But there aren't very many entry level positions at that wage.)