Everyone has a story, homeless or not. I give as much as I can, when I can. It takes a nanosecond for your life to change.
There for the grace of fuck knows, go I. If I can change the course of someone’s life with a smile, imagine what a smile and a dollar could do. Share the love. ✌?✌?✌?

In NY it was a daily thing and I tried to give as often as I could. Now where I work I have co-workers although not homeless, in really rough spots and I rather give food or money to them when I can.

I some times give money and I have bought homeless people food. If I give them money, I don't care how they spend it since it is no longer my money.

I've lived in downtown neighbourhoods where I see the same people all the time. Like it or not, they are neighbours. I give them some money from time to time. If they spend it on food, great. If they spend it on drugs or booze, that's fine too. I'm not going to judge their lives.

I've been homeless, and it's nae fun. Having looked into the problem before it happened, I found myself prepared with knowledge about what to do, and so my daughter and myself could get through that storm of life quite dry so to speak.

I have a glove box full of granola bars. I give them out to the people that beg at exit ramps and stop lights.

I live in a rural area and never see any.

I support causes that assist the homeless ... shelters, missions, a project in a nearby town that provides basic housing and job assistance, mental health services, etc. I do not give money to panhandlers, especially because local officials have warned (and this is a very liberal local government) that scamming is widespread here. There are people who actually make very good money doing it.

Supporting organized services for the homeless insures they are properly vetted and minimizes outright gifts going to substance abuse or otherwise wasted. Not that 100% of homeless do this, but it's not uncommon. Some of them are mentally unwell and just make bad or irrational decisions around money. There's a reason those folks are homeless, it is not 100% shit falling from the sky in every case (although such cases aren't uncommon, either).

Since I sometimes worry where the money would go I prefer just buying them lunch Etc

Here in Florida, every clump of trees, or patch of bushes has one of the 'Sans Domiciles' residing therein. The Rich should thank their lucky stars, that the 'Sans Domiciles' aren't as yet cognizant of the REAL cause of their suffering. Then, it might start to looking like 1787 in France, with the 'Sans Cullottes' rising up!

On a couple of occasions I have encountered people begging for help outside a fish and chip shop, In one case I gave the young lady the price of fish and chips and she shot straight into to the shop and ordered, and in the other, I got a separate order and passed it to him as I passed. Both people expressed gratitude. If just one of those people was helped, it was money well spent in my opinion. Putting that aside, the most valuable thing you can do for any one in need of help is to volunteer some time. By relieving the need for paid help in this way, you can you can free up funds to run the organization so that it helps more people. As my own funds are limited and the work keeps me active, this is an ideal solution for me, .

When I was much younger, I was homeless for a few months. One way I got off the street and caught some sleep was to go to the waiting room at the local hospital's emergency room. Everyone assumed I was there waiting for someone. I was also donating blood plasma the maximum times per week allowed. Low on iron? Go buy a meal of liver and onions. It was just enough money to buy food when the Krishnas weren't serving.

I give money when I can. Having been homeless, I would have welcomed the money for all sorts of things... travel sized toiletries, warm socks, a movie matinee to get out of the cold or heat for a few hours, to call my mom (this was before cell phones) , and lie to her that I was ok, etc...

Some reasons people don't want to sleep in shelters: Some shelters can be rough, so you're in danger of being robbed of what little you have; most shelters don't allow pets; some won't allow people in who've been drinking; many shelters segregate the sexes; etc...