This chapter provides a critical synthesis of the conceptual and empirical literature on social work in the context of poverty, marginalization, and empowerment. It argues that trust and human-centered practice are not peripheral values but are essential conditions for meaningful and ethical intervention. Drawing on interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks (including relational theory, social capital theory, and critical social work), this study examines how trust operates across micro (interpersonal), meso (organizational), and macro (policy) levels of practice. This chapter reviews recent systematic studies and comparative findings that highlight the role of trust-based relationships in client engagement, professional effectiveness, and institutional legitimacy. It also explores tensions that arise between trust and control, professional autonomy and managerialism, empowerment, and neoliberal responsibilization. These tensions are situated within the broader policy logics of surveillance and conditionality, which risk undermining relational and ethical practices. By integrating theoretical insights with evidence from international practice and evaluation research, this chapter proposes a shift from compliance-driven models to approaches grounded in dignity, participation, and mutual accountability. Recommendations for policy and practice emphasize the need to redesign welfare systems, promote trust-enhancing organizational cultures, and protect ethical spaces for reflective practice. Finally, this chapter positions social work as a relational and political profession that can counteract exclusion and support transformative change if its foundations in trust and human rights are prioritized.