Let's remember that poverty is a global concept and there are people in countries who are poorer than our poorest raising families with success.
The international poverty threshold is < $1.25 a day.
Here is a map displaying the world population living below this threshold. U.S. is under 2% living below the threshold compared to places in South America between 6%-20%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pe...r_day_2009.svg
As mentioned by other posters before, I think a major contributor to these social issues is a false sense of entitlement that is fostered by our government, our communities and parents.
As my Sri Lankan friend (who grew up sleeping on a dirt floor) once said, only in the U.S. do the poor have refrigerators and satellite TV.