Because it's your fault. If you are homeless or poor or in ill-health, it's YOUR fault. Legacy or our puritan heritage, or something. I really think this idea that bad luck is a sign of your own poor management/decisions is a big reason why our gvt doesn't try to solve problems like hunger and homelessness. Because those people deserve it. And those in power or who have more $ are there because they also deserve it and/or are in god's favor.
(Just to be clear, this is NOT how I think, but I do genuinely think it is part of the whole criminalizing poverty mentality.)