First, I'm not arguing for the status quo. At no point did I say I think we should keep everything just like it is. However, I did say that I think it's deeply

First, I'm not arguing for the status quo. At no point did I say I think we should keep everything just like it is. However, I did say that I think it's deeply wrong to make it illegal to outlaw street feeding of the homeless. For one thing, it's not going to help. For another I feel deeply that I have the right to help people, and sometimes that means giving them food. Street-feeding isn't a major factor in any of the homeless people I know, and I know a lot of homeless people. I interact with the homeless several times a week, and have for several years. I volunteer at soup kitchens, talk to them, give them rides, take them to doctors, buy them meals, and loan them money on a regular basis. Some of them are close personal friends. As far as I can tell you want to see it made illegal to feed the homeless -- fair enough. However, there is nothing stopping the homeless from going to shelters or the city/county/state to get help right now. But without more resources for those programs there is very little that will change long-term. If you are worried about exposing the homeless to programs I think it would be better for the police to have more mental health training, or a social worked they could call, or something similar. As far as I know, most of the soup kitchens around here already have a social worker on staff, but maybe they could have more available. The point is that I'm sure it could be improved, but making it illegal to street feed the homeless just isn't the answer you seem to think it is. As far as a solution to homelessness goes -- I don't think there will ever be anything like a complete solution. However, I think putting a lot more money into social services and human development programs will help, as will directly funding shelters and government programs will be a tremendous help. But the best thing, the thing homeless people really need? People who actually care about them and try to directly help them. It's about human contact. It's about getting out and talking to them. Maybe I can't solve their problems, but I can make it better for a little while. And sometimes that's enough.