Y'all apparently don't spend much time around hobos.
You think a bum cares about his health? Oh yeah...there going cut cholesterol out of their diet in between huffs of paint thinner.Directly buying them food is the best way to help a hobo out, if you get them money, they will just use it to by booze.
I get asked for stuff when I'm in downtown waiting for my bus, everyday, both in the morning and the afternoon. I have offered to walk next door to McDonalds and buy a burger for someone who "needs money for food"...sometimes they get mad when I don't offer them money. Last week, and old drunk sucker-punched me after I told him I only had one smoke left, and didn't have any extras. So you have to be careful around them.