Do those asking for handouts get more than they would by picking?
I have no idea how much they get. I never saw anyone giving them anything, although I saw the same people with the sme signs 6 weeks apart! Several years ago in Washington State they did a study of pan handlers who hung out a Pike Place Market. One gal turned nearly $100,000 income. She parked a baby on the sidewalk with her.
But, it was between 101 and 113 degrees on some of the days where these folks were standing in the median with signs that said everything from “Help — funeral” to “Mom and I are just trying to make it”.