I don't. There was a guy like this around the corner from my home in NYC who "worked" the same stretch of Park and Madison Avenues from 94th to 86th streets and every Friday I would see him at the Citibank branch on the corner of 91st and Madison making big cash deposits. I'll offer to buy a sandwich and coffee... and amazingly these people often turn them down.

If I have small bills I will give aid to the hungry and homeless.

Until CITIZENS are ready to offer such people a JOB, they are not seeing the real problem but it is easy to assume to know.

So, what are the options available to these folks? I'm am serious. Once homeless they become unemployable. 

Accepting generosity from strangers is a better option than prowling backyards in darkness.

I don't spend a lot of time worrying about whether a panhandler has a cellphone or can afford a cigarette.

I don't.  I lived in NYC for many years and have seen it all.  If I gave to all of them, I would be hungry and homeless.  I used to work with an orgnization that tarvekled around NYC delivering food and clothes to the homeless. We found that many had money for things like a phone and clothes but not enough to pay rent in the City or boroughs.  Another thing is some don't want to appear homeless even though they are.

I do not. I give to a reputable homeless support organization, but I'll not give directly to anyone on the street. My step-son deliberately chose to live the homeless life for a while. They can make a pretty penny on a daily basis for not doing anything more than standing around. 

I have in the past but I no longer hand out my hard earned money to beggars on the streets.  

Racket or not, it takes a lot of indignity to beg for money snd suffer the disdain of others. If I have a little cash and I feel like it, I will give. There are people who walk around town who don't beg but I know are homeless. I see them, I will go get money and catch up with them again. Drives my husband crazy. But it's as much for me as it is for them.

I hate seeing that.... there are jobs for them.... I don't give them money.....

I don't typically give money.  

Not usually. They are usually in very dangerous places and even some signs say they only want cash. That bugs me.

Dennis - usually no. They need to work!

I don't normally link to my posts on others' pages, but I wrote this a few years ago, and I'm just as likely to drive by as I am to stop. But this particular time, it was an enormous blessing.

Will Work For Food

No I don't.

Lol, it is their job. But I'm not there to judge. If I have change, I give. 

Absolutely Not!  There are jobs available and most are probably on government assistance or live with someone that is. 

Plenty of free meals in our town, I just send them down to the Salvation army for a hot meal, or the food pantrys for groceries.

I think you need to assess the situation.  My fiance and I saw a family this summer and the father was holding a sign.  We drove through Wendy's and got them a meal, they really seemed to appreciate it.

I give them food if I have something like a granola bar.  If they look disappointed, I know they are probably scamming people.

Great question. I don't give in hat way

It is stuff like that that make us walk away.  I have gotten to not give money but a meal instead

It depends and I do when a child or dog is with them. California had many, many on the street corners, but when we moved to TN they are on the street corners also, but with licenses on lanyards and sell a special newspaper created for them to earn money. I think that fosters much better self-esteem and helps them down the road.

I don't.  Most of these people make in the 60k/yr range tax free.  They live in nice apartments and get all the government subsidies available.  Some even vacation in the bahamas and panhandle down there in the colder months.

I don't usually give to anyone on the street.

We give to the Salvation Army. and 'No!' to answer your question.

I give to the FoodBank and the local Salvation Army, not individuals.  I remember one guy with a sign asking for money to buy footwear . . .  I looked at his bare feet and they were spotless, not a mark on them.  I asked him if he had been "beamed" down to the corner because he obviously hadn't walked there!!  

Dennis Swartz Panhandling is illegal in my County.

No

I've given them food, or when I lived in NYC, I used to give them my plastic bottles that they could monetize.

They make about $17 an hour.  Most are faked..  I gave anyhow,

A definite no to those but the homeless shelter gets time, food and money from me each month.

No.

The gov gives out these phones for free. Yes, its true. As far as holding a sign and working an area, it no longer works with me. My prompt has to signal

For most, that is their job. I see the same people at the same corners every day, i sit at the light watching people give them food, which they look at and through behind them. Most in my area are druggies. They have featured reports on TV and in the paper to not give them money. Parking cars behind businesses and walking there, and one guy who rides his bike carrying crutches, puts bike in bushes and stands on crutches....

Have you noticed that the signs show perfect penmanship and the words are on a straight line. It's a racket.

I have even thought the experts say don't.  It depends on how down beaten the individual look.

I don't.

Cigs in my area are like $9 a pack so I also question his homelessness. There was a guy in my area where they found out he was making $35K standing on a street corner just off the expressway. 

Sometimes, but mostly no. Many are scam artists that panhandle for a living. last year there was a guy with a bicycle begging for $ at 7-11 in Herndon. The next day I see the guy w old bike at 7-11 in Leesburg. He jsut carries old bike in back of his truck and drives around looking for places to look poor and homeless and to ask for $.

No, I do not. When I see someone begging smoking a cigarette and drinking a Starbucks, don't see the need!

I do not... the rest is my opinion and I'll spare you.  ;)

I do not