I agree, however, that if state like GA actually funded their mental health responsibilities, the situation would be helped dramatically.

My approach is to donate to charities with a good track record: Atlanta Community Food Bank, Atlanta Union Mission, Salvation Army, and my church’s shelter for women. I never give change to panhandlers, because: (a) many are con artists - I’ve seen guys who were panhandling for years suddenly start saying they were “Katrina refugees” in fall 2005; (b) many use it to buy alcohol or drugs; and (c) it’s just a dumb way to organize help for people who really need it. We need not so much “spontaneous acts of random kindness” and more well-considered, deliberate acts of charity.

If you want to know which charities are effective and make good use of their donations, there are several online resources. Also, you can try volunteering, for a first-hand look at effectiveness.

I like the idea of setting up a bum zoo. Fence in Woodruff park. Install some vending machines so Atlantan’s can toss crackers, chicken wings (the bums loves ‘em some chicken wings), and other homeless treats to the zoo residents. It might even be nice to have some plaques set up around the park to help the locals identify different species of urban outdoorsman.

Until either of these solutions are implemented, I’ll continue on my current path. Most of the time I ignore them, but other times I like to give them quarters for tricks. Sit, lie down, rollover, fetch are simple tricks that any bum can do. I never fail to get a laugh when I see some vagrant go running down the street in pursuit of a rolling quarter. They’re faster than they look.