How to actually help the homeless: Fund homeless shelters to allow them to provide the absolute bare minimum of food, shelter, and clean/presentable clothing, affording the homeless no personal property or private areas while utilizing the shelter. Fund free adult educational programs. Pan handling and public vagrancy gets you dropped off at a shelter. Basically you need to create an environment where the homeless have the chance to succeed and not die of exposure or starvation, but aren't comfortable enough to sit on their ass all day doing nothing.