Why were they afraid to sign up at the new camp sponsored by the Department of Agriculture?

The Joads had been used and abused so much that being treated with dignity made them suspicious. In the context of the times, this camp was like a socialist utopia. They had showers, clean tents, food and even dances. The people had their own say on how the camp was run. In the last "corporate camp" they were in, the Joads, like other migrant workers, were made to work for next to nothing. The conditions were filthy and they were at the mercy of the land owners. This new camp seemed too good to be true.