This goes back a few years, but I was out with my oldest daughter and we came upon a homeless guy. Didn't look to tore up but had a sign, "Down on my luck, will work for food". My daughter said we should help him out. I said OK. I decided I would buy him lunch as we were near a business center with many places. We walked back to him and said " Hey guy how about we buy you some lunch" He declined and said "I just want money". I walked away. To me all those pity signs most come up with have become nothing more than a scam to make people feel bad. If he was really "Down on his luck" he would have jumped at a free meal.