You could pass out bottled water or bus/subway tokens, or even make some sandwiches to take with you. The bus/subway tokens are easier to carry. Another thing would be gift certficates to local fast food or coffee shops. Chewing gum or candy might be appreciated by some, particularly if they are craving drugs (that may sound bad, but candy really does help aleviate some drug cravings).

Another thing you could do would be to support a shelter or mission that deals with the homeless, like Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago. Then when your tenderhearted daughter (God bless the children) sees a homeless person and you might be out of whatever you usually hand out, you can remind her that you support places that help feed, clothe and house the homeless.

A website you will want to check out is
http://www.guiltlessgiving.com/

It is all about this fourth grade kids invention of how to help the homeless.

Check out this video about the project. Cool stuff!
:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLn48zycRcE&feature=related

Something I did consistently when I lived in Chicago, was to pick up a transfer (pretty cheap compared to a pass - they don't use tokens any more) for the CTA and give it to someone. For a homeless person, this gives them hours and hours of somewhere safe and warm to rest - in many cases, safer than a homeless shelter might be - in addition to transportation.

Look for Street Wise vendors. It's a newspaper written and sold by homeless people in Chicago and it has helped so many earn enough money to afford apartments, and given them references to get other jobs down the line. It's a wonderful, inexpensive way to help support someone who is trying to make a difference to pull themselves out of poverty. There are often vendors around train and L stations around the city. Check them out at http://www.streetwise.org/

Feed them!

I was a victims advocate for over 20 years. I have seen hundreds of homeless. In 1992, I was a witness to a state of Indiana cop recruiting homeless people for Moorehouse Cult, called the Institute of Human Sexuality and known as The Purple People. Five of this cops recruited homeless were found dead with 40 dead "shrouded in purple" and a witness with evidence was also murdered. Homeless are prey for snuff pornography films. A billion dollar industry which attracks power hungry predators with enough money and influence to cover their tracks. This homeless shelter had half-million grant money for federal agencies and HUD. And were warned for two years that this cop as "director" was recruiting homeless for this cult "ignored"

When I see a homeless; I take the advice of a very wise teacher; "What-so-ever a man asks
for himself, GIVE it to him" when a cut asks for plasma..it is sent at once...no over-rule..no dominate and take control. Healthy cells respond at once to a request. Cancer (control) cells take over, dominate, discount and over-rule and decide "what is best" for others. I hope I am never so poor in spirit that I cannot give a homeless a $5 spot for coffee they DO drink

Only the cut knows what is needed to heal itself. They commit suicide or they are murdered anyway. You may as well let them choose their own way out, in their own time...with the dignity of choice for SELF. You have your drugs of self-destruction too. You exist in America where everything you touch and everything you use is made in China. China sweat shops and slave labor where elderly women go blind sewing sequins on million$ movie star gowns for 50c a
week. China child labor pedophile dens 6-15 years old, 12-17 hour labor days, seven days 50c, no retirement and no benefits for life. And every "teacher" in schools in using books and
tools of "education" made in the pedophile dens of China. You are just as homeless as he is.
We exist in a male=lame world. Full of domination, withhold and punish. BE a Girl.