Yes, the charity food queues, are reminiscent of the soup kitchens that so marked the Great Depression. And a very bad look in one of the wealthiest most prosperous nations on earth. Where, if the common wealth were equitably shared; redistributed, every man woman and child would be a millionaire.
Yet we see a growing queue of disadvantageousness. Why? Well, frankly it's the economic paradigm. We allegedly must have a growing population and pools of disadvantage, to minimise labour costs?
The current immigration levels are far too high and or, are simply not matched by infrastructure and low cost housing roll outs.
It is the mindless quest to pack more people into already overcrowded gridlocked cities, simply to advantage the privileged few, who benefit.
Negative geared landlords, land banking speculators/developers etc/etc.
We can and should grow the economy in a far more sustainable way, that no longer needs population growth to support it! It's as simple as ending poverty in all its forms and guises, wherever and whenever we find it.
Vastly simplifying the tax act, allows enterprise to pocket the averaged 7% ripped from the bottom line by averaged compliance costs. Moreover, a single stand alone expenditure tax set at a painless 5%, will raise more annual revenue. [100 billion plus!]
Because no reconciliation is necessary, the revenue becomes immediately available, for appropriation/essential govt expenditure.
[We currently shell out 100 million a day, or a billion every ten days, on interest charges.]
Meaning, many billions become available for infrastructure roll-outs, which could start with essential infrastructure and greatly expanded low cost housing.
Look, progressively permanently improving the discretionary spending power of the worst off, who have no other choice but to spend on currently unmet need, will act to snowball stimulate, that part of the economy, currently depressed!
What's more, intelligent reform as outlined, could usher in a win/win outcome and unprecedented prosperity, for both consumer and profit motivated entrepreneurs, who would be reasonably happy with "enough", as opposed to those who simply want to own or "control" everything and or everybody?
Rhrosty.

<The report also shows single parents doing it particularly tough. Many are sacrificing their own health to keep their children warm and well fed.>

Whenever I hear some elements of society voicing loud opinions about
penalizing single people with children, in particular single mothers,
by cutting their payments to an unlivable level, I think "do these people give two hoots about the children involved?"

It is the children they punish when their parents can't provide adequately for them. Children also suffer by experiencing the stress and unhappiness of their parent who is desperately trying to keep things stable and happy for the children.

A lot of people seem to care more about children from other countries
than they do about our own children.

Catherine, it does not sound like your example folk are planning on getting a job any time soon. It sounds as if they would be happy to sponge off the working people for ever. All they want is for those working to give them a bit more so they can be comfortable while sponging. This is a bit rich, when 2 supporting parents benefits is higher than the income of many working with only one wage.

If they intend to go on sponging, perhaps they should chose somewhere where the rents are somewhat cheaper. There are many contracting country areas, where housing is much cheaper. Perhaps you should suggest to your spongers that they try such place.

Of course they would have to be careful. Folk in small country communities often have the locals find work for them, a real challenge for the work shy.

"We don't want the world, just a tiny bit of help."

Surely they are getting more than a "tiny bit" of help ?

Not trying to belittle their plight at all, I am just working with some of the poorest people in Cambodia at the moment and trying to keep perspective, they would give the World to be as well off as the people you describe.

This Grandmother looks after her 4 grandkids,

http://i.imgur.com/IMgNl.jpg

they all live in a room the size of a western bathroom, that's there room behind her, other family to her right, yes all in the same room, they live on what the Grandmother earns, yes, she has to work to support her 4 grandkids. The children's Mother and Father were killed, yes we're volunteering, no, Government are not paying for us.

http://help-cambodia.blogspot.com/

Our story can be repeated across the World.