Here's how I look at it. You can either apply force (by making the urban poor work at some crappy job) ; or you can apply attraction, and have them move themselves (by offering a significant economic incentive to work). Ye old carrot and stick solution. :)
I believe the former (stick) has been tried many times, and it doesn't work quite as well. People just don't like others telling them what to do.
But by giving a significant incentive (a carrot), you make the person themselves affect change; and it is more sustainable.
Anyways: these are just ideas that I'm hoping can spur some discussion. Looking at the number of urban poor, the current system isn't working.