doinmypart, my mother used to pair up with another single mother and they helped each other. But it was still difficult. When I was little they had only the cafeteria arrangement and we could not afford it and bringing your own food was frowned on. We ate breakfast in our room and did not eat until we got back to our room around 10:30 (9pm convention ends) except for fruit, water, and cheese slices.
I'm glad I haven't been to an assembly, convention, or meeting for 12 years. I consider the things you mentioned as abuse.
Re the mugger money, I went to Chicago for an international convention in 1969 in an outdoor baseball stadium surrounded in a very, very bad neighborhood. We were told to hide everything in the trunk so people would not be tempted to break into the vehicle. People were told to stay on the assembly site, preferably inside the stadium, to keep all children by the hand (with 4 kids and only one parent?), to watch out for pickpockets (identified by their dress right? no pickpockets in suits). No potty parity and 8 year olds had to go with their single moms into the women's restroom. My brother said it was quite an education to see women adjusting their pantyhose (or taking it off because it was too hot).