You come across a homeless person holding up a cardboard sign with some type of reasoning to how he or she ended up there. You think "Wow that is very unfortunate. Maybe I'll spare them some change to help out" and throw your coins or dollars into their cup.

Little do you know, you're actually doing the opposite of helping them out.

With the trending video (https://www.facebook.com/bustledotcom/videos/17449...) about homeless woman and their struggles, and what I have witnessed through living in a city full of homeless people, I have decided to lay out why I am calling bull on homeless people.

Before you go saying that I'm "heartless" or "spoiled" or "don't know what it's like" hear me out:

1. They have chosen to be on the streets

Again: they have chosen to be on the streets, not to be homeless

I'm not just writing this article without any type of background or research. I know that unfortunate things do really happen. People get sick and don't have insurance to cover their surgeries, people get laid off, and some people are doomed from the time they were born. However, the people who live on the streets are there because they refused the alternative, whether it's living with their godawful step aunt, not wanting to give information to a shelter, or other psychological reasons.

Another ugly truth is that many of the people out on the streets have mental illnesses that have caused them to want isolation from others. Feeling extra bad for those who appear to be disoriented or disabled and giving them money, isn't going to get them the actual help they need to get better. The access to shelters, rehab centers, or any type of support these days is endless.. and trust me, those people who hold up homeless signs know that they exist too.

Why go to a shelter that makes you follow rules when you can still smoke, do drugs, and live day to day without following regulations that would not be tolerated at a shelter in the streets? I'm not saying that all homeless people engage in these activities, but from what I have seen through my commute to work everyday, it is a reality. Handing out those dollars makes them completely disregard the idea of going to a shelter and is what I believe to be the sole reason that people are choosing the streets and not the shelters.

2. You are making being homeless a well-paying job

When you're on the streets, there are no bills, no rent, no anything. All the money that's made is yours. Do you ever wonder how homeless people are able to maintain living out in the streets? It's because some are making more than you do at your 9-5 job that you spent years getting a degree for. If 15 people give 1 dollar to a homeless man in one hour, that's a hell of a profit for someone just standing there with a sign doing nothing.

Homeless people will make it seem like they aren't making any money by leaving only a few pennies in their cup, although watch a homeless person for a while and you'll see them stuff the dollars in their pocket or shoe when they see that there's no one watching. If you think about the places homeless people try earning money, it's where hundreds of people cross or drive by hour to hour. 15 dollars in an hour is easy money to a homeless person.That's why they flock to areas such as the metro, public parks, or bars. It's where there's endless activity.

Some people claim to be "homeless" after losing their job, which can pay over $30,000. Yes, it sucks, but there are millions of jobs out there, maybe ones that you don't like or think you are too good for that will keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach. You cannot just give up right away after being laid off. As someone who has worked multiple minimum wage jobs, I know how difficult and demanding they can be. One can argue that it may even be harder than a job that pays twice as much. Regardless, with the number of fast food places in existence, buildings that need cleaning, etc there is endless opportunity to get a job, and not seeking them out is a result of laziness. You are probably thinking: "You need an address to get a job. How can you do that if you're homeless?"

There are tons of shelters that provide their address in helping people getting back on their feet. If a homeless shelter isn't an option, there are churches that offer their address to homeless people to receive mail. Also, I am guessing that an address isn't at the top of a hirer's list when trying to find people for their minimum wage job doing busy work. If people decide they don't want to go to these shelters or facilities, that is again rooting back to the point that they are choosing to be on the streets.

3. They're probably going to go spend it on a pack of cigarettes

The million dollar question is where does the money you give to these people go? Are they really "starving" like they claim? Are they really burn victims? Or do they just want a high? The number of times I have seen homeless people away from their normal scenes of trying to get money either smoking or getting into vehicles off to god knows where (cough drug deals) has caused me to lose count.

Back to the point that homeless people reside on the streets in highly populated areas or cities; there are always tons of restaurants in those areas. Homeless people living on the streets are already going into restaurants or food stands to ask for free food... in which normally receive. They want to spend that money you give on something they can't get as easily as food, water and the other necessities we "think" that they are being deprived of.

4. That money could be going to places that help homeless people get on their feet

Yes, I know that some shelters don't just take homeless people right in. Homeless shelters have bed quotas, limits on the length of stay, etc., but what if all the money that you're giving to homeless people on the streets goes towards expanding those homeless shelters or improving their conditions? By giving money to people living on the streets, we are taking away the worth of homeless shelters who have staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to support those in need without a dollar face. There are amazing organizations in existence such as Street Sense (http://streetsense.org/about/#.WXjLhK0-LBJ) that are making small, but real strides to improve homelessness. Guarantee that if every penny given to someone on the street was given to an organization that could utilize it properly, homeless shelters could be better accessible and make safer living conditions.

I also guarantee Marlboro sees a decrease in their revenue.

All I'm saying is, yes we should help homeless people, but it's not going to be from handing them cash. if you want to personally give something to a homeless person on the street, give them something tangible.

Buy a print of "Street Sense", look for homeless shelters with vacancies and print out a brochure telling them how to get there or even take them there yourself if you're willing. Get a woman some tampons, or offer them the sandwich you didn't end up eating. Although if you give them money, you're feeding into the global problem that makes living on the streets a viable option. If they take the brochure and crumple it or even throw away the food because "it's not what they want" then that's when you've done what you can do to actually "help."

Don't let that result you to handing them the cash that will keep them stuck in the streets, and not out of the streets.