Someone I knew in Manhattan was coming home late one night and fairly tired.   A panhandler came up and said to her "can you help me out"   She thought about it, but was tired and not in the mood.   She said to the panhandler "Did you cash your welfare check this month?"   The panhandler just stood there confused.   She repeated "did you cash your welfare check this week"   The panhandler mumbeled "yes".   She replied "than I did already help you out this month" and walked away.   The panhandler stood there frozen without a reply.

One panhandler once told me after a friend gave them money "I've got to be honest with you, I am going to spend this on alcohol"   Wow what a surprise.   I would never have guessed.