I could not agree more, Hugh. What is with this disgusting editorial? The writers pretend that if people don't give money to people who need it (which is their right) that the "problem" of homelessness will magically disappear. But what is the actual problem? The problem isn't homeless people but homelessness and it's an economic issue. If they pass a law that threatens to fine people who exercise their right to give homeless people money I will step up my giving of money to homeless people, particularly in Springfield. You want to talk about "destructive cycles of behavior" look at the United States, a rich, highly developed country with one of the worst, if not the worst human rights violator among similar countries. 
Contempt? It is this editorial that is worthy of contempt, not people who are homeless.