I really want an answer to this from people who are not reddit-brained libs. I have seen some good points elsewhere about this contributing to a cycle of abuse and control, causing parents to withdraw their kids from school to beg instead, etc., but if someone is desperate enough to humiliate themselves by begging on the street, shouldn't we give to them? Or should I feel bad that I did give to them?
You're in Istanbul, Turkey. Do ask hexbear/this website for advice on this issue. Don't trust Google either, it will be full of anti homeless nonsense. Most of the people on here live in the USA, Canada, or the richer European and Scandinavian countries, they have no idea about the cultural context or what it's like in a poorer country. If you're from a "first world" country and are just visiting Turkey, you're experiencing this culture shock I just described. The only way to get accurate advice here would be to ask a Turkish person you trust for advice, and definitely a person who is not an arsehole towards homeless people or beggars.
and here is the issue, people everywhere are assholes