You raise a very legitimate concern.  Those "professional beggers" siphon off contributions which could have gone to individuals who need them and alienate individuals, keeping them from possibly offering help to the legitimately needy.

I was thinking of a rather "radical" idea.....perhaps panhandlers could be "licensed", given a short training session regardings laws and safety, registered and given an actual identifying card or whatever.  There would be no cost to the individuals,  but the process might help weed out those "professionals."  I don't know if it is used anywhere; don't know it it would m Constitutional standards, don't know if it would help.  I do know it would be great to have the individuals depending on panhandling to survive day to day get temporary shelter and, more important, get the services they need to help them lift themselves out of homelessness.  It would also be great to get rid of those "professionals."