They begged on the streets, became criminals, worked the streets/houses of prostitution( these were everywhere).
Not everyone had jobs in Rome. Unemployment and underemployment were widespread. The problem was so big that the state gave a free grain dole to the masses of the poor.
No they did not. The rich lead a life of opulence and the poor struggle to survive.
the curch
Ancient Rome was good for living if you were rich. If you were poor you would struggle to survive. There was no welfare except for a free gain dole.
Poor Romans were integral part of Roman civilisation. Without the jobs they did Rome would not have built her great buidings, the Colosseum, the circuses, the arches, the theatres and amphitheatres, the villas, the roads, the ports, the aqueducts, and all the other trademarks of Roman civilisation.
Yes, the poor people would work for or be slaves for the rich, the poor people were the plebeians and the rich were called the patricians; the equestrians was another of the classes.
Yes. The poor in Rome at the time had no rights, no social systems to care for them, and very poor prospects if they could find no work. Rome was a stratified society where people high in the social hierarchy enjoyed rights and privileges that the poor did not have. The poor could be abused and exploited without having any way to get justice for it. Given Rome's large population, there was not enough work, and many of the poor depended on handouts from the Emperor and Senate (when they had the money or were not spending it on a war) for food to prevent starvation.
rome is rich
A country without the resources to have its own people survive. Resources are needs different in every country. America's resources are different then Chile's, but resource poor would mean their people could not survive.
Without wishing to sound facetious, the main answer is to be lucky. In a poor country like Haiti, where buildings are of poor standard, the only safe place to be is outside.
At first the poor people in Rome were called Plebeians. When the city expanded, they were the Proletariat.
Many poor people in Mexico City survive by finding whatever odd jobs they can, sometimes resorting to illegal activities. Other more ingenious people run small businesses.