I think a lack of morality, low value of life and a loss of identity due to the breakdown of family support has as much to do with what's happening than financial circumstances.
ok, I won't argue about the flexibility of morals and lets say I agree that the bold portion of your post is indeed the root of the problem, I will still counter that if you concentrate limited resources toward fixing these things in poverty areas before middle class areas, you will see results far faster. My point is, there may not be a rule set in stone about the relationship between the things you identify and poverty, but there paths run parallel enough that it certainly cannot be ignored.