I personally believe that the majority of the people of the United States are good, hardworking, honest people. If they ask you for work, they will do the work honestly.
In our city we have a couple of "groups" of people who work together standing on corners panhandling--they rotate corners, and just beg all day long.
I don't give to beggars unless I feel led to do so, and then I figure it's between them and the Lord what they do with it.