I was born and raised in a part of the world where everyone was poor or tangled in a bad crowd or drowning in drug addiction or - if they were really, really lucky - all of the above. They were all in the same messed up situation, trapped in a part of Gotham that no one wanted to look at, let alone help.
They usually ended up robbing and murdering one another. It was a completely mutual thing.
Your optimism is refreshing, but you should still watch your back. We don't know everyone here yet.