I did a shift at a homeless shelter a while back, and that's how I learned that the beggars out on the streets are often grifters. They leave the shelter every morning to go out and mooch with the signs they use on the streets, and they return in the evening with those signs to do it again the next day. They are technically homeless since they're living in shelters, but they have a roof over their head and free meals. Anyone giving to them isn't helping them survive, they're helping them buy booze and drugs. One guy I worked with told me that one of the regulars straight up refused to get a (very easily obtainable) job because he had all his needs provided for. There are also more more beds than homeless people in many cities. They stay out in the street because they're more interested in drinking and shooting up than getting shelter.
I did a shift at a homeless shelter a while back, and that's how I learned that the beggars out on the streets are often grifters. They leave the shelter every morning to go out and mooch with the signs they use on the streets, and they return in the evening with those signs to do it again the next day. They are technically homeless since they're living in shelters, but they have a roof over their head and free meals. Anyone giving to them isn't helping them survive, they're helping them buy booze and drugs. One guy I worked with told me that one of the regulars straight up refused to get a (very easily obtainable) job because he had all his needs provided for. There are also more more beds than homeless people in many cities. They stay out in the street because they're more interested in drinking and shooting up than getting shelter.
The pattern I learned was: "I'll buy you a lunch, how about that?"
If they are genuinely hungry, they'll be happy as all hell. If they are a grifter: they'll actually be quite annoyed.
There's also the few times, where the dude is wearing nicer clothes than me. That's normally a dead giveaway.
Now connect the dots and do people on food stamps who take drugs.
The argument on Reddit went:
"Think of the Children; you can't take their food away just because their parent (mother) tests positive for drugs."
If they are not feeding their kids, and they are buying drugs, then they are an addict.
Subsidizing drug use with government money is fucking stupid.