This is a moral dilemma for me, what to do? Advice or personal experiences welcome.

i give directly to homeless shelter, habitat for humanity, etc.

I think it is up to the moment.

To always keep in mind to not abuse ourselves first by

A little personal story
I took a homeless friend in once and I wouldn't do that again - the cost of my peace of mind was too much. He stayed over 2 months and would refuse to move out, wouldn't contribute and would leave dirt everywhere, not cleaning. He helped me a great deal to expand my horizons though through quality conversations and he was a sweet company to meals I was making. But no initiative, never ever.
And when I asked him to leave, he wasn't. I had to push and push and create a whole scene, open the door and get his stuff out, and he still was shouting and asking me to let him stay in.
He came at night later, asking me again to let him in. And couple of days after. I ended up handing him 200 euros, gifting him my guitar and exhausting myself about him.

One more story
Another night I met a lady at a park, she was asking me to take her home to sleep for the night, she was pleasing me and saying only for the night. At that time I was staying at a friend's house and really wasn't feeling comfortable to take her in, and also, I already had that experience where the guys wasn't going away and I had to kick him out. She was saying how it was too cold for a woman her age. I walked all the way home and all the way back and brought her a blanket. The blanket was my friends' and of course I never took it back and then I had to apologize to my friend, whom never trusted me again with her home - naturally, giving her stuff away like that.

I have many stories.

Now I try to help, I am buying people food now and again, or giving them a bit of money because I know how it is to be hungry and sad. I try to help whenever I can. But I try to not overextend like I used to when younger?

We can never know truly what another person is going through - there are incredible depths and battles, sickness and darkness.

If I am too tired to care, I won't and won't feel guilty about it. If I am focused on something and moving towards that, I don't owe it to anyone to be there for them.

But, if I am there present and I can, I will help.

I think this is the key, to not overextend too much. To follow the heart of the moment -

Giving is still a good thing, instead of money if possible give food. There'd be no end to questions about what sort of person people be, we can't let cynicism overrule our decisions, unless we're in peril, and/or have good reasons to base them on in specific and not just generalized matters.

I have found that the best thing to do is buy them a meal. Handing them money is not a good idea as they will use it for things other than what you intended. It also leaves your conscience clear. If they throw food you bought them on the ground, they are not homeless.

I worked with the homeless for quite some time and the better option is to meet a need for them rather than money. I always brought food, drinks, blankets and clothes if I had any. Please don’t stop having the heart you do it’s a beautiful thing and I like it a lot

My personal experience if I have it to give and they are in a position to receive I always try to give. It’s so hard to ask for help and then when you ask for help help doesn’t come or it comes with strings attached. You not having that 20 anymore is probably not a big deal but you giving him that 20 might mean he didn’t go to sleep hungry. Or he might have used it for alcohol. We won’t know. Everyone is fighting something no one can understand or know so in a dark world chose light and kindness whenever you can.

I don’t give money, because I don’t know how it’s being used

What I have done, is shared my food. If they don’t want it, it’s on them….not me

Food before drugs and booze

You're doing the right thing. Someone yelling out their car window isn't evidence of anything, especially given the extent to which homeless people are ostracized in our society. Sure you can't know that a homeless person is a good and decent person, but even if he's not, that doesn't mean he should go hungry.

A tough decision.
I've heard that most of them are drug addicts, some are just lazy and don't want to work and rather beg and live in the woods, some have health issues and can't work and their parents kicked them out....
THOSE, I won't help...their homelessness is their choice.
Others that are just down on their luck, or veterans with health issues, I will help.
But how can you tell why they are homeless ?????

There is no way of knowing why the person said that about the homeless person unless you track them down and ask them, but can you trust that they are telling the truth?

You gave out of the goodness of your heart.

If you are in a position where you can or want to help someone whether its cash/food or something else, you should feel free to do so but there is no way of knowing a stranger's history as to what they have done in the past or how they ended up in that situation unless someone has proof that the person in question has done something wrong or is a bad person.

For all you know, the person who said that may have had the homeless person confused with someone else or doesn't like homeless people and wanted to cause trouble.

I don't know that this can be answered: Is there a right thing to do? Or just do nothing? because everyone will view this differently.
The only thing you can do is rely on your intuition or instinctive feelings to guide your decision in this type of situation.

Ugh that's tough ...in that moment...I would feel conflicted too ...all you know is what you have to go on ..in that moment they are just another human who is suffering and needs help ....
I have these kits I've put together in the past ...and hand them out to homeless I see just randomly ...a simple bag with simple things ...some toiletries ...non perishable foods ...water bottles ...etc ...or I've just bought them a meal

Trust your instincts! You’re calling your power back now so let it flow. And remember; people can be so judgmental and unforgiving. If it felt the right thing for you to do then believe in yourself.

You're giving to help. Some people treat homeless people like a nuisance and it's not like you're to know otherwise unless someone explicitly told you.

What they do with your help is in their hands. Whenever I've given food I've usually asked what they wanted. I've yet to have any say they didn't want anything but I can understand why some may find it insulting.

I used to know one guy who refused to live in the local shelter and would actually choose to live out on the streets instead. One time I saw him after he claimed to come back from the hospital. He said he was stabbed and I could see the stitches on his face and his torn clothes. Someone had stolen his sleeping bag and clothes. After talking to him for an hour, he told his story and expressed he was suicidal. I asked him what kinda food he wanted and then came back with a few things including a new sleeping bag. There was also a woman who got him some clothes which he told me about when I came back.

Thing is, I stopped seeing him in the same spot and there was a report not long after of a man that jumped off a bridge who was declared homeless. I remember his name. They didn't mention a name so idk if it was him but I do wonder sometimes.

Help is help and the outcome can't always be helped unfortunately. You're doing what you can, when you can. If it makes you uncomfortable I think it's okay to step back too. It's not always easy being a woman trying to help a man just based on the potential risks. Trust your gut💙

Thank you to everyone who gave me their thoughts and experiences. Like you've all stated, it's not my place to judge or even try to, but to simply be human and share.

I long ago overcame that dilemma. I do what makes me feel right, and after that, I let it go.

What if you give someone at the grocery store a compliment and it turns out they're a massive narcissist?

What if you let someone pull out in front of you in traffic and it turns out they were on their way to murder someone?

You don't know people's story and that's not your fault. You did the right thing by giving to the homeless.

The angry side of me says that the guy who shouted "arrest him" is just one of those pricks who thinks that anyone who is struggling in life should be held at fault and punished for it. Victim blaming type shit.

Don't let him cause you to overthink it.

I think you did the right thing. He was in need of help and you gave it to him without moralizing. The people who yelled out "arrest him" could have been MAGA types in the increasingly fascist environment.