Final answer:
During the Industrial Revolution, the mentally ill were the group least likely to receive community assistance due to societal stigma and lack of resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The population group that would have been least likely to receive community assistance during the Industrial Revolution was the mentally ill. At that time, community assistance was directed towards certain vulnerable groups such as widowed women, orphaned children, and injured laborers who were seen as deserving of help due to their contributions to the workforce or societal structure. However, those with mental illnesses often faced stigma and exclusion, and resources for their care and support were extremely limited. This exclusion was reflective of broader societal attitudes towards mental illness during that period.