What are your thoughts on giving money to beggars?

I give them a fiver and ask them if they need anything else. Saying 'they might buy something wrong' is a slippery slope to 'people shouldn't get benefits because they might buy beer.' And I have heard right wing politicians literally say the latter.
- I want them to get that fucking beer man. Being homeless sucks. A beer makes it suck less.
  
  "Don't give that guy money, he'll just use it to buy drugs"
  I'm just going to use it to buy chocolate, fuck does it matter if it's his addict or mine? At least I still have a house to eat my chocolate in.
- I agree. Some people buying something bad for them doesn't mean they're unworthy of the chance to buy food or something else objectively helpful for life.

I had a lady come up to me in the grocery store with her child and ask very quietly in very broken spanish/english to help her buy food for her and her daughter - who looked to be about 2. My first reaction that I acted on was to say sorry and walk away. Then it hit how cold and callous that was. Even if she was a scammer, that is not an easy way to make money. So I found her gave her $20 and walked away. A few minutes later I saw her with a cart and some food with a smile on her face.
My opinion is that if I have a bit of money that I can do without there is someone that could do with it I'll let them have it. The money may go to a scammer from time to time and I know in the past it has, but if I can help one genuinely needy person I do what I can, not going to let the shit bags (both scammers and politicians) keep me from trying to help

If someone asks, I'll offer to buy them food or other supplies. My wife hands out handwarmers during the winter. We used to put together care packages for people, but lost the habit. I don't give out money because I don't want to enable addictions. When you offer something other than money, you are able to more easily separate people who want a fix over people who want to improve their situation. Your resources go farther when you help the latter.
edit: One thing that helps people out a lot is buying them public transit passes. It gives them mobility to get to shelter/services they wouldn't have access to otherwise.
- Worth pointing out that most people who help will offer food, but you can only eat so many times a day. Food is plentiful in developed nations. Most restaurants/grocery stores are throwing away and donating tons of food a day, these people will know where to get it.
  You can't buy shelter with food. Supplies are great, but they also wont help someone off of the street.
  It's not an easy problem to solve, but when I'm helping someone I don't think it's my place to be the morality police. In a perfect world, we would have systems in place to help these people overcome, or prevent it in the first place . But we don't live in a perfect world.
  
  They likely can't buy shelter with a fiver or whatever you decide to give them either. The truth is that charities, food banks, and churches are much better equipped to supply the homeless with what they need because it isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why I donate to those organizations instead of trying to hand out money.
  Let's also be real: not wanting to enable addictions is not about policing morality. It's about harm prevention. The drugs and alcohol they may buy with your money is likely to do more harm than good in a very practical sense and has nothing to do with my personal beliefs.
  At the end of the day, your money won't help them a majority of the time. Offering food or supplies gives them the opportunity to tell me what they need short term rather than me guessing or leaving things up to chance. Long term solutions are provided by other organizations, and your money is better spent there.
  
  Take this for the uninformed opinion it is.
  But, does panhandling ever lead to someone getting off the street? I thought of panhandling as pure survival resources.
  I am unable to provide shelter, I could donate to one of the charities dedicated to temporary shelter to provide that. Arguably a better donation than panhandling, as those charities offer pathways off the street.
  Jobs, permanent shelter, etc aren't achieved via panhandling, but through other means (local charities, what not).
  But, food/water/entertainment I can provide, like right now. So on my way into the fast food place/shop I'll offer to grab something.
- Giving money is much more beneficial than buying meals etc.
  
  OK, what do you think they can do with the $50 that they manage to accumulate that will seriously benefit them?

I been on the bottom rung. So I know that kind of living. And because of that I help when I'm able to.
- Honestly for me, it's very hard to trust people who haven't fallen on hard times. People that have never been in trouble, always feels like they look down on you, and don't understand the system that keeps people down.
  Ive spent a night or two in jail, I've been broke as fuck, I've had to go without. Until you've experienced it, it's hard to fully understand.
  
  And it's impossible to explain to people who haven't lived it.

I try to give a bit of money, reasons like they are going to spend it on bad thing aren't for me to judge or evaluate and people don't become rich from begging on the streets. There is also a bit of a hope that someone will give me a bit of money if situation will reverse once.
- I've seen a guy with a "Money for Weed" sign in Hamburg the other day. He obviously got some money.
- There are actually beggar gangs that can be obscenely rich, particularly in China.
  
  Who becomes obscenely rich in these gangs, people that ask for money on the streets? Obviously in big cities with a lot of tourist traffic there bound to be criminal organisarions that try to monetize suffering.
- I don't think it's necessarily bad to evaluate/judge what they spend it on, but ultimately if that's your reason for not giving ("bad thing") then it's probably just an excuse. I say this to mean I can know they likely will buy liquor and I wish they would buy food instead.
  I give homeless people money sometimes knowing they are lying or might not spend it wisely but I reason that they got into that situation through a lot of bad luck so whatever they decide to spend it on is on them. I have a friend who couldn't believe I'd given money to a homeless person who lied (they had a quite unbelievable story that sounded like a huge lie anyhow). I explained to my friend that them lying doesn't mean they don't have a good reason to need money. They're only doing it out of desperation and clearly need money.
  
  I’ve certainly given based on entertainment value of a tall tale
- This is the closest to my philosophy. I keep a few $1 bills in my car and hand them out to anyone who asks. I'm not interested in judging whether they look like they need it, or what I think they'll spend it on. I just want them to know they're not invisible.
- There are some highly publicized cases who do actually get rich from panhandling. However the trick is to understand they are the exceptions and that you can usually distinguish them from actual needy

I once saw a guy searching through the trash for "Pfand" Bottles (German recycling system) that are worth 25 cents. He didn't ask me for anything, so I gave him 5€.
PS: I could tell that he was genuinely grateful (or at least a great actor) and I had that gut feeling that he is a good guy.
- This shows that you have great empathy.
  But what if a person came and ask you explicitly for money, will you give them?
  
  Mostly no, especially in big cities, because I would be broke in 30 minutes. If someone tells me they need it for something reasonable and specific and I believe them, maybe, honestly it depends on my mood as well as I am obviously flawed, just like everyone. Also I live paycheck to paycheck myself.
  Edit: Thanks btw.
- Searching through the trash means they genuinely need the money, and are willing to work for it. That's worth something.

I won't help every time, but if someone asks and I'm feeling generous, I usually stop and talk for a few mins and hand them $10-20, no strings attached. I'm not the ethics police and if they buy insulin or liquor doesn't matter to me as much as them getting the impression that they aren't invisible and people want to see them prosper. It's too easy to see myself in their situation for me to be an asshole about it. Most of us are only an accident or bad decision away from homelessness and poverty.

As someone who's been homeless, I deride the term beggar. Still, It depends, If I have something on me I can part with. A joint, a cigarette sure. Got a fairly annoying allergy that means I often wind up with some food stuff I can't eat. If I have bills they can have cash. Change is kinda worthless here. If someone looks hungry, I'll give them something. But there's so many now in the area, you can't help everyone.

Just handing them money? No, I don't. I don't have much myself.
But I do work in a downtown area near a shelter and see a lot of the same people pass by every day. I'll give them cold water and extra food if I have it. Certain others I will let go through my scrap metal for stuff they can sell to recyclers, and occasionally I'll hire someone for the day to help me clean.
I still feel like a dick setting in my air conditioned truck ignoring the person setting outside in 100F+ weather with a "help me" sign.

Anyone willing to do that probably needs the cash more than I do. Who am I to say? If I can spare it, I share it. If I can't, I still try to give a little of my time to recognize them as a fellow human being, because I know begging or just being destitute in general feels dehumanizing.

My thinking is that as long as I'm given the choice, I'd rather be scammed out of $20 than fail to help someone who legitimately needs it.

Occasionally I will say "how much more to get some product" followed immediately by "how much ya got". If they show change in their palm or otherwise engage honestly, I'll usually top them up. Have your beer dude, if your life is so crummy this is what you need to feel OK go ahead. Never ever ever ever ever ever ever give to somebody that claims they are hungry because that is a bald-faced lie.
But generally the way I give is to check on the addicts in the bus shelter during extreme winter nights, bring them hot/cold water, supplies to plug wind holes and otherwise keep it warmer, plus whatever I salvage in my travels. In summer I maintain the community "ice water" zone which is just at the stump of a tree, but now that all the people in the hood know it's there, it's raided continually. I honestly can't keep up as I just have a tiny freezer but it's replenished as often as reasonable for me. The community chips in now as well... they've started to bring lidded takeout cups and plastic bottles and leave them there so I don't have to constantly scout containers.

Where I live, there are a lot of people who hold signs on the side of the road and the end of off ramps. I'm a funeral director, and I've had to cremate homeless people who got hit doing that. It makes me very anxious to see someone running across traffic to grab a dollar from someone three lanes over.
So that in particular bothers me pretty bad

As a short woman who can't run fast, it depends on how safe the situation feels. In general, I keep moving if there's someone coming out and approaching people, because some of those folks can switch from a scam to a purse-snatch/assault in a flash. But I've occasionally tucked a 20 into the cart of a woman sleeping on the sidewalk, and I don't care what they spend it on. I donate monthly to my local food bank as well of course.

Vehemently against it. Far too easy to abuse - there's been criminal gangs that force people to beg. I've even heard of criminal gangs crippling people they traffic to give them visible disabilities to make the begging more effective. Giving money to beggars - even if they're not being trafficked - still makes begging worthwhile and increases the likelihood it will be made into a gang activity. We need government programs that handle it, or give your money to a charity instead, which makes sure the money goes to effective programs that help people in real need.
- But what if the poor person who is asking you for money, is unable to access any help or charity?
  I know that the easy answer is to not give any money to beggars and to only give it to charities, but that also has its own set of problems.
  
  They can go to the cops. I get this may not seem ideal to them if they are in fact doing something illegal. And again: giving money to beggars encourages begging -> more human trafficking. It's a very, very direct causation. I rather not get into that.
  
  My take is that your $5 or whatever isn't going to really make a difference either way in the grand scheme of things because this issue is systemic and you can't fix systemic issues as an individual taking a small action.
  We have an insanely large issue with meth and heroin addiction where I live and so I've become quite jaded on the issue after seeing the results of it for so long. I'd be inclined to give money to someone actually down on their luck but I'm not giving shit to some loudmouth tweaker who's probably going to come by my house later and steal my kid's bike or commit identity theft on my elderly neighbors with zero remorse. These types of people are on the streets because they've burned every bridge in their life already. Addiction is a mental health issue but that doesn't absolve everyone from the responsibilities of their actions. Some people can't help themselves due to disabilities whether physical or mental and these people deserve help, but there's a good segment of people who just don't want to give up the life.

I prefer donating to food banks etc. That's a good tradeoff between helping people eat and not feeding addiction or encouraging begging. I want a world where anybody struggling just goes to the next food bank and shelter and won't freeze, won't go hungry and find assistance to improve his situation. The cost for these things is so little and it helps so much.

Loud street beggars - never. They are usually members (or victims) of criminal organizations. Even if they are forced to do it, giving them anything only makes the business profitable for their bosses.
Poor people you know otherwise. Like for example a homeless person in your neighborhood who doesn't usually ask for anything. Help them if you can, especially with non-monetary support. Food, clothes you don't need, personal hygiene supplies, etc...

When I can, I do. Life is difficult enough without having to beg to survive. Don't give a damn what they spend it on. Just want them to have what little comfort it can afford

If they ask and I have it, sure. People will say "I don't want my money going towards drugs and alcohol" to which I say "who cares?" once you hand it over it's not yours anymore, let them do with it what they want. Their lives are already shit as is so what do I care if my $2 coin is going to go buy them a beer...oh no a single beer, they'll get wasted!
Others will say "but you're just encouraging it" my guy I live in a city of millions not everyone is handing out twonies to homeless people, it's not going to cause a massive increase in drug use or alcoholism.

What someone buys with the money I give them is none of my business. These people are suffering, of course buying drugs and alcohol is a possibility. People get drunk at the bar for less.
Some people talk like giving these folks money keeps them in their situation. As if the threat of death and nobody caring if they disappear will magically spring them up with motivation to find a job. Nope. But I agree that our current system of leaving it to the generosity of strangers isn’t effective. We need more housing-first programs, with access to therapy.

I don't like giving money to the homeless, that's why every month I make some grab bags, usually five or six because we have a few spots where people panhandle in my city. I based the grab bags off the weather, sometimes a cheap hat or shirt or sandals in the summer, and in the winter things like beanies scarves or gloves. Then throw some plant-based protein bars in there maybe a little candy, You will definitely want things that won't spoil in the heat of the car. Then a couple self-care items like some travel toothpaste and toothbrushes, chapstick gum that sort of thing.

I'll throw a few bucks here and there. Bought a guy a six pack once. Fuck it life sucks enough as is when you're homeless, may as well have a drink and forget for a while.

I've been couch surfing homeless before and that was rough enough. People begging for money have it way tougher. Just because there might possibly be someone who has a house and a car behind for money doesn't mean it's a scam, they might also be desperate for money despite having those things.
Begging for money isn't very lucrative.
If you have the cash and want to help, go ahead and toss that starfish, but if you don't want to don't pretend you're taking the high road.

I should more than I do. It's a good thing to give when you're able.

If someone is trying to do the most good with their money, it seems logical to give via an organization that distributes the funds according to a plan. To instead hand out money to people closest at hand seems it could be motivated more by trying to make me feel good than to actually make a difference.
Furthermore, there are larger scale systemic issues. Begging takes up a lot of time. It becomes a problem if it pays someone enough to outcompete more productive use of time that could, in some cases, pay, and in other cases, at least be more useful: childcare/teaching kids, home maintenance, cooking, cleaning, etc. In contrast, state welfare programs and aid organizations usually do not condition help on that the receiver has to sit idle for long times to receive help. Add to this that begging really only works in crowded areas, which may limit the possibility to relocate somewhere where living might be more sustainable. Hence, in the worst case, handing out money to those who begs for it could actually add to the difficulty for people stuck in a very difficult situation to get out of it.
This "analysis" of course skips over the many, many individual circumstances that get people into a situation where begging seems the right choice. What we should be doing is investing public funds even heavier in social programs and other aids to (1) avoid as much as possible that people end up in these situations; and (2) get people out of these situations as effectively as possible.

I wouldn't because I'm broke as fuck
My advice to them would be: go shoplift the corporate chain
Eat The Rich

If I had infinite money I would give it all away but my real opinion is a lot more closed-hearted.
I grew up in a drug town in the US and over time my will to help just died.
I knew some people in active addiction and every time we were out they would notice someone begging and say “hey, I know them! I have used with them. They are NOT homeless” or something to that effect.
I have seen people use their kids as props. I have seen people leave the corner and hop in their expensive af vehicle. I have seen people rob whoever stopped to help them. The list goes on and on.
It’s genuinely unsafe to get involved. Sure, most people aren’t like that but I can’t tell the difference and it only takes one. Besides that, if I gave a dollar to everyone who asked, I would have nothing left. I have to worry about me and mine.
Maybe if I grew up in a safer neighborhood I would feel differently but you don’t un-learn survival and I stopped carrying cash all together because of this.

I’m poor, so I’ll do what I can. Especially if it means ignoring people I’ve seen shoplifting. Because, no, I didn’t.

Policy wise, this has always been my hill to die on. Giving the homeless money directly is my exclusive form of charity. Because I don't want some capitalist on some bragging rights philanthropy board getting part of my donation as part of their six figure board salary. They've done enough.
A large homeless population is a symbol of a failed society's crimes against itself.
If a society doesn't exist to take care of its people from the worst off upward at all times, it is without a benevolent point and it's existence is without worth.
The homeless in the US are the US's greatest domestic victims, left to die horribly of exposure and ~~police~~ capital defense force brutality for the crime of failing to become model exploitation vessels for our robber Barron's insatiable greed disease.
Most of them should have conditionless basic housing, the worst off should be inpatient mental health wards of our society, as they are us whether we hate them or not. But we aren't willing to pay for that. Even though mass homelessness is not inevitable with good policy and funding.
Worse still, many non wealthy Americans hate them for lowering their... 🤮... Property values. This all goes back go us being a society in name only. We're more a bunch of exploited, deluded peasants at each other's throats for robber Baron scraps as they use their media and their captured government for blaming their greatest victims, those people under your local freeways and tent cities, for their avarice fueled malice.
Communism may starve human nature, but capitalism indulges and gluts humanity's worst, most vile impulses exclusively. It breeds sociopathy as a desirable choice.
And considering the depths our homeless have been brought to by the society that betrayed them, I genuinely do not care if they spend it on food or shelter or alcohol or drugs or whatever will give them even a moment of solace/escape/peace from what we have done to them.

I never give cash. I've personally had to provide emergency service for ODs that came directly from someone's "last fix".
My GF donates to the food bank at the end of our street when she finds a great deal on an item.

I give money if I can afford to and it's for charity, or a person asking for themselves. I don't give if I can't afford it, or if it's the police. They really should be getting funded through taxes.

I don't agree with it for two specific reasons, non is a judgement of character or moral failings:
If you are willing to give a beggar any amount, those dollars would be far more useful in the hands of a good organization whose aim is helping people. Want to feed them? Give them food or donate to the food back. Want to clothe them? Give to a shelter.
The reality is that these people are likely not capable adults due to a variety of reasons (no judgement). They are not capable making good decisions for their own well-being and giving them money is fueling an unhealthy choice, like short term happiness for long term pain and potentially death.
My belief is that we should mitigate suffering, help them live good lives, and set them up to be contributing members of society, and that isn't accomplished by randomly giving people money.
- Lol yes it is. Most of the population would be mitigated suffering if you just gave them money. Literally money buys happiness until you're like a millionaire. Get off your high horse and treat these people like humans and not as something less than.
  
  That is generally true, but not in this context. If you are an addict, having $50 doesn't enable you to improve your life. It just enables you to buy your next fix. I don't say this to demonize anyone, but the point is that many homeless have mental or physiological issues that make it very hard for them to spend money wisely. Handing out money is slapping a bandaid on the issue or possibly worsening their situation. Chronic homelessness cannot be fixed by a few good natured individual's pocket change. It requires actual rehabilitation, which is incredibly hard.

Depends on how they behave. If they get right up in my face and immediately tell me their whole life story how they're sick and hungry and have twenty children to feed, I'm usually skeptical. On the other hand, if someone is polite and especially if they ask for food instead of money, I'm more inclined to help.
Overall, I'm happy to help those who really need it but I've had too many bad experiences with people who were in it out of greed more than necessity. Prime example, some time last year I was on my way home from a vacation and had to wait at the train station for a couple of minutes when a guy came up to me and asked me for money because he was hungry. I told him I had no cash with me but I could get him a sandwich from a nearby vending machine where I can pay with my credit card. On the way to the vending machine, he asked me if something from the bakery at the other end of the station would also be okay. That was already a bit weird but okay. I left my partner and my luggage at the platform and took him to the bakery. On the way there, he pointed out that there was an ATM where I could get cash for him which I refused, then at the bakery he asked me for two of the most expensive snack they had plus something to drink, a total of over 20€. Quite the difference between that and the 4€ sandwich I had initially agreed to. The whole situation was so uncomfortable, I can't even remember what I got him in the end. And from the way he acted, I wouldn't be surprised if he just threw away the food once I was out of sight and asked the next person for money.
It's sad. There are so many people who ask for what they need and are genuinely happy when they get help and then there are greedy assholes like that guy. And because I usually can't tell the difference at a glance, I'm often overly careful and don't help even though I feel I should.

I generally don't, especially not when people come up to me and ask for money. Though that's just because I don't like unsolicited interactions with strangers in the first place, not because they are beggars.
However, I never use cash in Switzerland so every time I come back from Germany I'll just dump all the change I accumulated there on the first beggar I find.
- I’m assuming that change would be Euros, though; can they really use that in Switzerland?
  
  I get off the train in Basel, which is right at the border. Don't even have to exchange it, most shops in the area will take Euros.

I'm getting the very minimum basic income aid, I'm struggling too so I dont give 🤷

I give food or consumables only.
canned food
dry food
fast food
Gatorade mix
multi-vitamins
socks
clothes
coats
water bottles
life straws
soap
sanitary wipes
dry shampoo
I will not give to anyone who panhandles in dangerous locations. I will not give to people who stop me.
the only time I will give cash is if they have kids with them and I have seen them interact positively with the kids.
there's one woman in my area that has her three kids with her. she's everywhere in town. she does not have positive interactions with the kids. one day I saw her and the kids sneaking back to a parked escalade in a park across from where they were at. very nice, new, and clean. clearly she is using her kids for sympathy. this is why I have that rule.

I no longer carry cash so the question is moot. Also a cheap way out ….
I used to occasionally, but
I no longer work downtown so rarely encounter homeless
I am more likely to recognize scammers and am more likely to run into them. An oversimplification is the more aggressive ones are more likely scammers
I used to think it was a good thing to empty my pockets for whoever was in need, but too often they were offended I would offer change
if someone was hungry I used to buy them a meal, but too often it was an excuse to beg for a larger amount and they’d be offended at a meal
Now I theoretically donate larger amounts to services for homeless ….. although it’s been far too long since I have

I'm used to automatically disingage with them but I kinda shouldn't. I'm working on it.

Depends on where. I never do where I live. Not just beggars, but most charities that engage me on the streets as well. I just need to get through my day, and the money I have is already reserved for something, and anyone who knows me knows that the least enticing way to get me to do anything is to show up out of the blue and ask for something, or ask for something when I'm just moving through to some destination or purpose.
EDIT: My GF reminded me of a major exception to the above: There's this magazine often sold by people down on their luck. I usually buy it, even if I don't always read it, because the ones selling it are usually in the beginning stages of (hopefully) turning their life around. People fresh out of rehab, etc. They're making an effort, and I'll happily support them doing so.
I do support some charities, but none of the ones I support bothered me with expectations of social etiquette when I've got shit to do and places to be. I've finally reached the point in my life where I don't give two shits about coming off as rude or unfriendly.
When I'm somewhere foreign I'm a bit more nice/giving, though. For starters, I don't know much about local circumstances to know which hardships and lack of support anyone I meet face. Secondly, I am usually carrying some local jimjam currency I won't need once I leave. A prime examle of this is when I saw a beggar in Mobile, AL last year, and I walked past someone with that "default" sign of being a veteran et.al. I was leaving the next day and didn't really need whatever local currency I had in my pocket, so I gave him 40$. If he truly needed it (which I assume he did), then I hope it took a load off his shoulders for a while. If he didn't then it wasn't that big of a loss to me.

I don't give. I donate to organizations that give, but I don't give direct. I'm not particularly trusting that it's going to the right place. I'm not interested in buying you a beer, and I don't believe the train ticket story, because I've heard it a million times.
My wife works with the homeless. She gets them housed. My wife found a dude who shed gotten housed out busking telling people he was homeless. It's happened more than once.
If you're going to give to a person, give to an organization.

Donate money to your local food banks, homeless shelters, or any other non-profit that has a good reputation for assisting those in need.
If someone approaches you asking for money, absolutely under no circumstances should you give it to them. Be sure to say that you do not carry cash to give them. Then if you are feeling that you need to give to them, then offer a meal or buy groceries using a credit card. You'll find that most of them will decline.
They are using YOUR GUILT to get their next drug fix most of the time. That guilt is artificial and the result of manipulation techniques they are employing against you. It is rather contemptible to be perfectly frank.

You do you, but I can't imagine it would improve their situation. I also don't trust people. It sounds horrible but I've been taken advantage of before and I won't let it happen again.

The issue here isn't about charity for the less fortunate. Many of the people begging make a decent living (from begging), and moreso than those working shitty service jobs. I don't want to give money to someone that dresses homeless and puts on an act. I would happily give money to anyone that genuinely doesn't know where they will sleep next week, or where their next meal is coming from.
The problem is that I'm not in a position to evaluate that. As such, I would rather give money to food banks and the like, since they are in a better position for that.
- This is such a bad take. If it's so profitable why don't you quit your job and go beg for a living? Someone is asking for help and your response is to question their worthiness or intention?
  Someone is asking for help. Help if you can. It's not easy to get out their and hold a sign belittling yourself and putting your fate in the hands of strangers. Have a little humanity.
  
  My perspective is, if someone is walking around asking for money and I'm not, they probably need it more than I do.

Here they are always on street corners. I never give money because I don't want to encourage unsafe behavior, as our streets are pretty high-speed. I would much rather provide to the shelters.

There’s no right or wrong answer here. I’ve been meaning to stock up on 711 gift cards for situations where I do feel like giving.
My last run in with a beggar she told me she was gonna eat my face off if I didn’t give her money for some Black & Milds.
- Wow, that's intense.

There are a lot of homeless people that stand on the side of roads with signs asking for charity where I live. There is almost an equal amount of people who do it as a "job" and take turns being on shift with their buddies before they walk to a nearby parking lot and drive back home at the end of the day. They usually do not accept food if offered. Actual needy people will gladly take food. If I were to give cash to someone, I'd offer food first.
- Sometimes they are allergic. Sometimes they aren't hungry and have no way to store the food you give them. Sometimes they are sick of the same food because there's a taco bell nearby and that'll all everyone gives them. Sometimes people give them stuff that you need to cook and they have no way of cooking it. There's legit reasons why someone might turn down food if you try to give it to them.
  
  You're not wrong. There may be legitimate reasons to turn down food. There are definitely other indicators which could be a tell as to whether they are truly needy or not. Their response to food is usually a big one, but shouldn't necessarily be the only thing to make judgements on.
- Can confirm this. I was in downtown Kansas City Missouri on a daily basis for a time in the late 90's. There was always someone with a sign at a big intersection close to the river. One day I spotted the person that was there that morning at gas station in the afternoon. They got in a BMW at the gas pump and left. It was at that moment that I mistrusted every pan handler I ever saw afterword. Turns out it was a whole family that sent someone down there daily. They dressed down but they were living big in a town right outside the city.
  
  People can be in desperate financial situations and still have a car. Hell for some people that's their only shelter. Begging doesn't really get you a lot of money, so that family might've been desperate for a different reason than being homeless.

A few things. My policy for all people is that if they ask me for something specific, then I will not give it to them on the spot. Doesn't matter whether it's panhandling or selling something or asking for signatures. I don't like being put on the spot, so I'm going to either research it on my own or follow some policy.
My policy about panhandling is to give money to food charities instead. Not because I think it's wrong to give them things, but because it makes more sense for me logically and emotionally.
Emotionally first. I don't get that emotional rush that other people seem to get for giving out money to a needy person, but I do feel a lot of remorse if I think it was a mistake. Sometimes, their response to a donation makes you feel really bad, and you don't ever get that if you just ignore them.
Logically next. A person without a home cannot buy food as efficiently as even a badly run charity. They don't have a refrigerator or even a safe place to store food, so they're forced to buy ready to eat food at several times the cost. Even if I did hand out money to individuals, I wouldn't do it without a budget. It just makes a lot more sense to give the same money to a charity, instead.

I pretty much never have cash. So, if I'm buying a 'to go' lunch/coffee I'll offer to get them something.

I give money because it is the decent thing to do.

I had a job that paid stupid well. I'd give some money to almost anyone who asked on the street. They need it. I have plenty. I'm not going to notice the $1 or $5 or even $20 that I gave away. I make more than that in interest every day.
Rarely, I'll talk with them a little. Ask their name or their story. There's a regular around me that seems delighted that I remember his name.
Sometimes someone will seem unsafe, but most people are alright. It helps that I'm a bearded man, so certain classes of danger and harassment are rarely pointed at me.
I got laid off in February. I still give to people who ask, but I carry less cash so sometimes I don't have anything to give.
When I'd be out with coworkers, before we all got laid off, none of them would give anything to people asking. I know they made as much or more than I did. I don't judge people for not giving cash out when they're in debt or struggling to pay rent, but I do judge my coworker for like wearing a high five figure watch and never helping the poor.

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talk about how the beggars might spend their money on, how they might be lying
Only thing that I ever heard: they use all the money for alcohol and nothing else (I don't know, cannot prove it)
they should be looking for a job instead (My commentary: finding a job is impossible for them this days
Around here everybody who wants to work (and is legally allowed to) finds a job.

I say, it's your money, make the choice yourself. I'd rather donate time and money to an org like Food Not Bombs where they can use the same amount of money to help more people. But, let's face it, I'm too busy these days to find the time to volunteer. So for me, if I have money--and I usually don't--I'll give them what I feel like I can.

i am poor myself and am fully aware of the assistance options available in my area. sitting on the corner with a sign is not a good solution to poverty. i will happily pay 10$ for a rose or cup of mango slices, but sitting around and guilt tripping money out of people that are just trying to get to work or focus on the road is not an ethical use of peoples time imo, no matter how poor you are.