I would agree, but such solutions can't come from the people themselves, because they have too many other things to worry about, like simply trying to stay alive. It has to come from someone who has the resources along with the creativity to make it happen. Whether that comes from government or the private sector is irrelevant, but to blame the individuals for not caring when they have far bigger problems is not the right solution.
I spent the majority of my first 22 years of life growing up in a neighborhood that was 95% black. So trust me when I tell you that most poor people in America are poor because they are fools. They constantly make choices that perpetuate their poverty and it carries over into the appearance of their homes (and thus their neighborhoods).
We had no more money than anyone else on our block. But we made sure the grass in our yard was cut and our trees and shrubs were trimmed. We refused government help because we understood it would make us dependent. We instead invested in ourselves and made choices to better ourselves. And now my whole family (my parents, my three bothers, and myself) are out of poverty.
