Why do we keep throwing other people's money at poor people and expect them to rise out of poverty?

I'm 15 and in eighth grade. I'm writing a research essay and I decided to base my on the effect that welfare has on poverty in the u.s.. I need some reasons why or why not welfare increases dependency on government and does very little to actually lift people out of poverty. I got this idea from watching 'Stossel' last night. Thanks