It all comes down to "Dignity", there is no dignity in accepting handouts, providing the neccessary tools someone needs to provide for themselves restores their dignity
Mike the best thing I ever read was from a soldier in Iraq. He said when they went to hand out the food rations they came to a farm and the Iraqi told them "thank you, but I don't need it anymore. You gave me seed and fertilizer and now I have enough to feed me and my family with a little left over to sell." He asked the solders to give his rations to someone who needed it. THAT is the meaning of dignity.