"Paying for costs now to allow for profits later" is literally what investment is.

If you teach a man to fish but don't give him a pole or access to a body of water with fish in it, you've done nothing.

A first month's rent for an apartment so they have an address with which to apply for a job.

A beater car to transport them to a job outside of range for public transportation.

A class so they can get a better job.

Medicine or food so they can live long enough to find a job.

Mental health services or medications to make them stable enough to not be fired from a job.

Childcare so their kid won't be left alone while they're at their job.

Now, I can't give you financial advice, but I think those are some great investments with a lot of potential to change someone's life.

Movie theaters are usually open.