Quote Originally Posted by StagLefty View Post
Yup I get a monthly news letter from Denver Rescue Mission and even they say handouts are a temporary fix and for long term help refer the homeless to them and their programs.
I'd go a step further and say giving panhandlers money is not even a temporary fix but is instead doing harm to them. They have to hit bottom so they'll seek help and/or straighten their shit out ... keeping them in pocket money keeps them hovering just above bottom ... low enough that their life stinks but not quite low enough to cross the "its time to do something about this" threshold.