I do my best to help, but honestly asking me for a leg up is like asking a drowned man to loan you a life jacket. When I am underwater I can’t really offer much safety.

Then you answer it by saying you listen, and to be able to listen you need to be on their "level" not you have to be homeless or mentally ill , just you need to remove your ego and have no influence other than what they are saying, if you do this people tend to become more aware which in itself can help them. Obviously that is a bit sentimental for lack of a better word but I think it is true, from there they still need actual help much a person can't provide but listening and making them feel more aware you will also maybe find that they are not just trying to take advantage anymore and will not request help you can't provide. A person who feels shut out will demand ludicrous things, a person who feels understood will relate.

I do not care to speak about government as though it will make any difference since it does not , it is an entity and not individuals such as thinking that if more governement employees were to try and be better etc , this will not make a difference to the entity or will be too slow. A parasite needs to be eradicated , and the only way we can have individuals in law enforcement , health services etc take responsibility for their communities is by removing their attachment to the parasite as a whole.

Best of wishes to you and those who rely on your support no matter how small it is, you get to live with yourself and they might just give themselves a leg up because of you. That is all you can hope for.