[VaSteve]

I work in he city. A block from the US Capital building. I see the same guys everyday. I give nothing and keep walking. I had a guy approach me in the train station and tells me he was a Marine and down on his luck and I felt bad, kept walking. (btw, we're 6 miles from the pentagon). I asked one of my staff who said that the USMC should be able to assist him if he really had a problem. I saw him a few weeks later and he approached me again with the same Marine schpiel. I didn't feel so bad that time. I wear a suit to work and I probably look like a sucker/mark to these guys.

When I walk with some of the folks from my office, they are usually pretty friendly both ways.

The true homeless arent begging like these guys.