I used to live in Lancs a while ago, and whenever I went in to Manchester there was this one homeless guy I'd always recognise and give a few bob to. We weren't mates or anything but we spoke a few times, and he seemed like the most normal guy on earth, mostly. I still wonder sometimes if he's still there, or if he ever wondered where I went. I slipped him a 20 once and it seemed to make his whole week, which in turn made me feel bad. Homelessness- or people's perception and attitudes to it, is fascinating, though a pretty dark subject. People make all kinds of excuses to themselves to justify their callousness. I know because I do it too.

*quality sigh

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I couldn't speak to the situation in other countries, although I am sure it is similar, but chronic homelessness in America is a symptom of two things, mainly, which is mental illness and alcohol and drug addiction. People end up homeless for all sorts of reasons but they stay that way, mainly, for those two reasons. Many of these people have had extremely messed up lives and had very terrible things happen to them. That we should help the poor is stressed many times in scripture and a society which ignores the poor is a cruel and unjust one. They need help, and they need compassion. Giving them money won't necessarily help them (most are begging to support an addiction); what they need is a support network. They also need hope.