Hmmmmm, No jobs other than helping each other with kids and broken cars, etc? Perhaps I surmise too much from the picture you paint.
Sounds like a typical 'hood on "the dole". I hope that isn't the case but if I were a betting man, my money would be on it.
Sounds like a great environment to be a target.
When you said your lady was a "washingtonian" [sic], are you referring to Washington State or Washington, D.C.?