I agree that the normal (average) people we have in mind are not those living in poverty. During my life I met many and plenty of times I was shocked about how they lived but also how a part doesn't seemed to care. Today they would be called scammers, a part preferred to live in freedom and others (entire families) were kicked out of their homes although the parents have a job (I always wonder where it went wrong).
The real poor? You will not hear and see them because they rarely search for publicity.