There is an interesting self-promoted book called Scratch Beginnings, which describes how a young man went through an experience “pulling himself up by his bootstraps”. He placed himself in a homeless shelter with $25 in his pocket, found a job as a day laborer, then worked for a moving company. After 10 months he had his own automobile, furnished apartment, and $2,500 in savings.
His conclusion: People can still make it in the United States if they are willing to live carefully on a budget and work hard.