For awhile, I worked in an R&D/policy group that focused on these very issues in the healthcare domain. I think my point still stands. Community funded program

For awhile, I worked in an R&D/policy group that focused on these very issues in the healthcare domain. I think my point still stands. Community funded programs that helps individuals find their next step, when funded appropriately, are often enormously successful. In the healthcare context, say you want to decrease the number of repeat folks to the ER without decreasing their access -- basically ounce of prevention vs. pound of cure approach. A representative example is person who regularly comes to the ER for insulin issues. In addition to cost pressure, there issues might also source from not have a working fridge or consistent electricity. It is thus cheaper for the social safety net to provide electricity and a basic fridge than to have the person return regularly to the ER for insulin. Similar workflows and standard of care exist for almost every social ill -- if we have the civic sense to fund it -- to help people take the next step towards bettering their lives.