You make very good philosophical points and heartfelt observations about the poverty of people begging in the streets. Unfortunately a significant number of the people who are begging also suffer from mental illness. It is not uncaring to be careful about situational awareness when walking about. Nevertheless, I have given money to many of the people who ask me. But I also observe that the stories associated with the asking are largely repetitive concoctions of standard pitches. In most cases I consider the money I hand over to them to be payment for my privilege of having some extra cash. The wider problem of such poverty and homelessness should be addressed at a societal level through government programs related to housing and so forth.