Here is the scoop in Canada
NO ONE needs to be pan-handling. We have a social support system where every person gets an income - even the homeless - especially the homeless.
In some places a person cannot collect welfare unless they have an address. But in Canada most provinces have fixed this by allowing people to pick their checks up in social service offices or at homeless shelters. So not getting welfare isn't an excuse to be begging.
Some provinces give more than others, some cities give more depending on the standard of living in that area. In some places where they know a person is a substance abuser or has mental health issues that limit their ability to budget properly the rent is paid directly to the landlord. I have a neighbor who doesn't receive her whole check at the beginning of the month leaving her with nothing by the end. They give it to her every other week which helps her not fall too far behind.
Families and people who are sick or have been abused get priority for housing. Families get housing almost immediately.
We don't have enough adequate housing. Single people are often sent to boarding houses which aren't the best atmosphere to be. But they aren't out on the street. If a person needs retraining for employment they get it free while they are getting welfare. And they get extra money for clothing so they can get a job when the training is done.
We have homeless shelters. And while they might not be the best place to go they are shelter out of the weather. There is NO REASON why a person should be living on the street.
Given the services available some people still choose to refuse the help offered, services paid by your tax dollars. So you pay to provide the services and then these people refuse it and stand on the corner asking you for money. Worse still are those who get the check and still stand on the corner begging you to pay yet again for something you have already paid for.
Years ago there used to be a deaf man who went from one MacDonald's to the next showing a card and selling tiny pencils. Well since I know sign language I stopped him a couple of times and asked if he knew sign language and he would respond Yes. So I would ask him why is he begging. You never saw a man run so fast out of the restaurant towards his big car with 2 girls sitting in it waiting for him. It was a con. And because he tried to make people believe he was deaf and feel sorry for him they would open their wallets and literally empty their change into his waiting hands. I was furious.
People with legitimate disabilities get a pretty good income to make them quite comfortable as long as they aren't wasting it. I'm one of them so I should know. I can't afford restaurants every month. I shop carefully. I sew many of my own clothes. So I am doing well.
As far as I am concerned there is NO good reason to be handing money out to people in Canada when they already get it from your hard earned tax dollars.