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When I first moved to this city, 19 years ago, I would give money to beggars. At some point after seeing the same beggars in the same spot for years, I decided I would stop. I figured I wasn't helping them, I was just enabling them. Now I give money to charities that help the homeless. I won't give a cent to a person on the the street asking me. I don't ignore them and walk by. I'll look them in the eye to acknowledge them and say "sorry, no."
In this city, there are plenty of places that feed the homeless, and there are a couple of shelters (although one is closing.) Nobody is going to starve on the streets of DC as things stand now.
Edit: FYI, I walk past about 6-10 beggars a day.
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