This is all pretty new for me Lynn.  We simply didn't have homeless people in my small Iowa town.   The vast majority worked until retirement.   We did have a Christian Opportunity Center that helped 100-200 mentally challenged folks, some who stayed on their campus, some who stayed in apartments with some drop in assistance.   

The strength of the community was it's focus on the children.   Outstanding schools, lot's of extra curricular opportunity and  extended family for support.   It also helped that we had two large privately owned manufacturing companies that provide good pay and benefits for parents (pulling from other surrounding communities as well).

It was a very conservative community, the strong work ethic was normal.  Also had a four year liberal arts college that provided diversity of thought.

It was a weird place I'm finding out.   My 'normal' has taken a beating in Eugene.   

Frankly, our lives are sometimes luck of the draw.   "Values" are learned, not universal.