The main problem with government poverty programs is that they usually focus on spending money instead of giving money to people who need it. That is, the government spends money on things, but this is a very inefficient or even counterproductive way to help. And a lot of the time it just means that the money is going to whoever is politically connected.
A much more efficient way to help people is just to give them money directly, and then people can spend it on whatever they think they need.
A much more efficient way to help people is just to give them money directly, and then people can spend it on whatever they think they need.