The state of the economy worries many people, especially those who are poor and have little in life. More and more people are homeless because they don't have enough money to buy or rent a place to live in. Some people have no jobs because they aren't qualified for work, or because they can't keep a job because of alcoholism or substance abuse. There's nothing more humiliating and degrading than to sit at a street corner and ask for spare change from passers-by.

We all have different opinions on panhandlers. Some may think that they should be helped and that they deserve our pity. Still others think that beggars and vagrants are unproductive members of society, and should not be helped. If you do get approached by a panhandler, or if beggars and vagrants are disrupting your business or trespassing upon your property, here are some ways to get rid of them.

Why Give to Panhandlers?

Some people beg not because they want to, but because there's no other means for them to survive. A woman may beg because she's disabled and can't get work, but she has herself and children to feed. A man may ask for money because his child is in the hospital and he just got fired from his low-paying job. Here are some reasons why you should help a panhandler:

• Charity. They say that big things come in small packages. We all want to change the world, but we need not look for the secret to universal peace. Sometimes a few nickels and dimes worth of spare change can help change the world for the better.
• Compassion. Most panhandlers are decent, hard-working people who have fallen into tough times, and would take any kind of work or means of making a living. The problem is that they can't get by for the moment, and any help you offer them can give them the chance to get back on their own two feet.
• Giving back. Sometimes a beggar will do you a favor, like run errands or clean your car, in exchange for money or a bit of food. It would be insulting and disrespectful if you just ignore them. Whatever you give them can go a long way.

Why Not Give To Panhandlers?

Sometimes even generosity has its limits. While some panhandlers really do deserve help, some beggars can be very abusive. They either crowd a prospected giver or demand more money from you even if you've already given them enough. Some panhandlers can also be quite aggressive. Here are reasons why you should not help a panhandler:

• It's illegal. In some states and countries, anti-vagrancy laws are in effect. Some government agencies do round up panhandlers and place them in halfway-houses or put them to work programs. There may also be some laws in your state that can penalize a person who gives money or solicitations to panhandlers.
• You don't know where the money goes to. While it's good to help, some panhandlers may spend your donation on things other than food, clothing, and shelter. Some beggars may use the money for tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs. They may try to come across as people in need of help, but you only end up helping them sink lower in life.
• It doesn't solve the problem. Every bit of help counts, but giving money to panhandlers does not solve the problem of poverty and homelessness. You can only do so much to help, and giving alms to a panhandler regularly may mean that he or she will depend on you for everything.

To Help or Not to Help: That is the Question

Unless panhandling and vagrancy is illegal in your city or state, then you have to judge whether or not you should give money or food to a panhandler. Beggars depend upon the kindness of other people, and some of them may even abuse it. Some panhandlers are in dire need of help and understanding, although some victimize their benefactors by being part of a vagrancy syndicate.

When you do give to a panhandler, you should be absolutely sure that he or she truly deserves your help. Here are some things to watch out for:

• Disabilities and handicaps (for example, the beggar is an amputee, or looks mentally ill).
• Age (it's OK to give money to the elderly or to children, but think twice before you give money to people who seem old enough to hold a job).
• Addictions and dependencies (if you smell alcohol through his or her breath, or he or she seems to use drugs).

Whether or not you give money is up to you, as long as you're not violating city ordinances or state laws. It's still best to give to panhandlers as long as you do so with an open and willing heart.

Give a Small Amount

No matter how generous you feel or how magnanimous you want to be, a bit of spare change is usually enough for a panhandler. If you don't have coins or one-dollar bills, then you're well within your rights not to give a panhandler money. Chances are that you're not the only generous soul who'll pass by a panhandler and give money.

If you're not keen on giving money, try giving away food. Food is more useful for the homeless, especially if you're worried that they are just going to use the money for alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. You may need your spare change for other things like small purchases at a convenience store, or to keep the parking meter running.

Reward Good Deeds

From time to time, some panhandlers actually try to earn the alms they may get. Some panhandlers help carry groceries, return your cart at the supermarket, wipe your dusty shoes, or sell you poems on the street. Some panhandlers may even sell handmade goods from garbage they pick up, like tin cans and plastic containers. It's often better to give to panhandlers like these than those who bum out on the street. Some may do senseless “errands” like washing your windshield with a Squeegee or tap on your car to help you park in a parking space.

Call the Authorities

Some aggressive panhandling techniques are illegal in almost every city and state:

• Asking for alms near a bank or an automated teller machine
• Soliciting at a certain distance from the door of a business (like a restaurant or a store)
• Extending any part of the body (like the hands or the head) into a vehicle while soliciting
• Following and stalking a person for alms or donations
• Threatening a person for alms, or for more money than what he or she already gave.

Police officers can arrest the panhandler if the offense is quite serious. Don't hesitate to contact the authorities if the panhandler is aggressive or threatens to hurt you. Remember that you're the one giving something away out of the goodness of your heart. The least a panhandler can do is to be grateful for whatever he or she is going to get from you.

Three square meals a day, a roof above one's head, and a steady income are some of the things we value the most. Some people don't have these things for themselves, and may need help to get back on their own two feet. Be thankful that you don't have to go through the same experiences and indignities as the downtrodden panhandlers you pass by every day. While you're at it, placing a dollar bill in a beggar's cup won't hurt your pocket.