I've never been homeless. I've spent a week in an alley and three months in a car but I have no idea how desperate it must feel to have no food or shelter, at the mercy of real citizens.

I agree with cgod, they are not looking for companionship. Besides adopting them you cannot help the individual on a truly personal level. You are only opening yourself up to the con men.

I very rarely turn a person asking for help down. If you're living on the street you have problems whether your own fault or not. I'll give you what I can to help, either a few dollars (I don't care what you spend it on) or more preferably, a meal from a nearby restaurant. If I tell you to piss off it's because you're a con man preying off my supposed guilt of this "privilege" the article mentions.

Unless you're clearly challenged I have little sympathy for you. You will not be pushy and you will not treat me like a god with your false reverence because I'll see right through you. I am sorry The State has failed you but it's failing us all. Take this, it's all I can spare tonight and I hope I never see you again.