I don't know where you're living, but here in the UK the government only does a fraction of what ideally people would want and as time goes by it does less and

I don't know where you're living, but here in the UK the government only does a fraction of what ideally people would want and as time goes by it does less and less. There is indeed plenty of work to be done as you say, but typically you can't fulfil basic needs while doing those jobs which would enhance the neighbourhood. This is evidenced by the current phenomenon of the "working poor" (i.e. people who are working in the private sector but who still critically depend upon income from the state).