Your statements above are very true. I believe that most of the homeless people on the streets today have made compromise after compromise until they have lost almost everything. I think that Brother Francis and Beans Cafe should require contribution from those capable. (If they don't already, its been years since I volunteered) I also think that it should be documented mostly so they can list them as work experience if they need.

From my perspective most of the current systems as I understand them are based on hand-out models. Instead, we should transition to hand-up models that help guide them back to being productive. Identify their limits and work on them. Being a productive member of society is a lot like exercise, without practice, they become less and less capable. However, like exercise, if we push them to succeed and set reasonable expectations they will get stronger.

Unfortunately, some people don't want to change no matter what you do.