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?
If you want to sure.
If you're interested in helping homeless people I recommend talking to your local unhoused neighbors and organizing against anti-homeless policies and activities, including bans on camping, bans on feeding people, and cities "sweeping" (throwing everyone's shit away). And also organizing against housing commodification.
Of course one should also recognize that capitalism must be overthrown to solve the fundamental cause.