You'll know the ones who need help because they're scared and reluctant, almost embarrassed to ask you for help. Do not give them money. If they say they're hungry get them something to eat. If they need gas, offer to put gas in. No money. As far as they're concerned you carry none. It can be dangerous trying to help these people. Substance abuse and mental illness are rampant and often combined.
The funniest example I can provide would be a wheelchair bound black woman who had lost both her feet, to diabetes apparently. She had an accomplice who would hide behind bushes or down a side alley. Wheelchair lady would position herself near popular nightspots and restaurants downtown, and try her latest wild tale of woe on people as they entered and exited.
After she'd worked that spot for a while, out came the accomplice and away they'd go at a sprint, I kid you not, to the next place. I watched it from my office window, and I also got hit up numerous times. She had poor recall or was buzzed, maybe both.
The craziest story involved her car getting towed to the impound lot with her baby inside. I GOT TO HAVE FIFTY DOLLARS TO SAVE MY BABY SHE NEED HER FORMULA!!!
Stupid as it sounds with all the logical contradictions, people were still giving her money.
Giving them money is wrong, like throwing gas on a fire. You're only feeding their substance abuse.
My brother and I were approached by a bum on the street in Frankfurt Germany.Guy said he needed money for food,but it was obvious he was a drunk.My brother reaches into his wallet and give the guy a 100 Mark note.(It’s 1984,the Eurowas just a socialist’s dream somewhere.)I look at my brother and say What the hell,Bruce-the guy’s a drunken bum.Bruce says,”That’s true,and with 100 Marks to spend,maybe he’ll drink himself to death tonight.