<human>: Many people, Redditors included, seem to hold a negative view of welfare programs such as SNAP (food stamps) and housing vouchers (aka Section 8). The general consensus with these programs is that they are only to be used as a last resort if one is on the verge of going without housing or food.

On the other hand, there are plenty of other government subsidies that most believe one would be stupid not to use. Tax credit programs for houses subsidize the purchase of a new home, and a couple of years ago I could have used "Cash for Clunkers" to get a few thousand dollars off a new car at the expense of other taxpayers. Public colleges and universities are subsidized at the expense of taxpayers as well (as well as subsidized federal student loans). Many businesses also take advantage of government subsidies; some wouldn't be around were it not for federal assistance.

Why exactly is it immoral to use food stamps or housing programs, but okay to take advantage of a whole host of other government programs? Is it the idea that the people who use welfare programs are invariably lazy, want to use the program chronically, and don't contribute to society? In other words, what is the difference between someone taking several thousand dollars out of the pot to go towards their new home, versus a poor person taking that money to go towards food?

Say someone is working full-time at (near) minimum wage and therefore eligible for SNAP. Or someone becomes temporarily unemployed and doesn't know how long it's going to take for them to find work. Even if they are not literally on the verge of starving, is it a problem for them to use the program? In either case the person does contribute to society, and they are working on getting to a point where they don't use and aren't even eligible for these welfare programs. That money can really help even if it's not a life-or-death necessity; the eligibility requirements are what they are for a reason.

I do realize that these programs are abused, but my question is more in regard to the morality of food stamps on a personal level rather than a societal level.

Can you give me a shortened version of the text?
<bot>: Why the stigma on the use of food stamps, Section 8, etc if one is actually working and contributing to society?