As a general rule I don’t give money to panhandlers. Once I gave $5 to a regular panhandler near my office but it was because he had jumped up and opened the door to my office as I was carrying a heavy box. Another time I gave cash to what appeared to be a homeless man who was carting huge garbage bags filled with recyclable bottles on his bike while he walked the bike. (The bike had a bad tire or something.) I gave him money to fix his bike and offered to tote his bags in my car to the recycling center and meet him there. He refused to meet but graciously accepted the money.which he never requested. I saw him struggling with his bike and bags and offered help. I have a lot of respect for people who are trying to earn money but nothing but disdain for panhandlers standing in a busy intersection expected something for nothing.
I never carry cash anyway. I always make a point to wear my ear buds, so the bums think I can’t hear them.