And in reality it may be just their way of making tax-free money by getting a handout. In my small hometown in Missouri they have recently had an large influx of panhandlers. It's not uncommon to see 6-7 along a 1 mile stretch of the main highway at intersections. A couple of them have been approached and flat-out admitted they make anywhere from $200-$300 a day that way, and there is no trail for collection of taxes.
Unfortunately a 2015 Supreme Court ruling basically gutted many cities anti-panhandling ordinances and laws stating they restricted the 1st Amendment rights of these people. http://theconversation.com/most-panhand ... eech-92498
Cities are going to have to get creative in their fight to stop them. https://www.npr.org/templates/transcrip ... =631434725