This is why social support networks are important. When someone in that position has a friend or relative with a car that's willing to take them shopping, it be

This is why social support networks are important. When someone in that position has a friend or relative with a car that's willing to take them shopping, it becomes a question of "when you've saved up a bit and are ready to go, just text me". It doesn't fix poverty but mutual aid makes it less worse. Edit: Another commenter made the example of buying tools (expensive upfront) to make your own (cheaper) repairs vs. paying someone else to do it, there's such a thing as tool libraries now. IMO every community should have one.