It got me thinking and I went to look it up online and it was.
Destitute Persons Act (Cap 78)[1]
Penalty for begging
4.—(1) Any person being a habitual beggar found begging in a public place in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to persons frequenting the place or otherwise to create a nuisance shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
(2) In this section, "habitual beggar" means a person who on at least 2 previous occasions was found begging in a public place in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to persons frequenting the place or otherwise to create a nuisance and was in consequence thereof required on those 2 occasions to reside in a welfare home.
This is a pretty neat way of handling the begging and homeless situation in a lot of cities.
Panhandling is a nuisance and if you have been around it you know what I am talking about. For example - you go into a store to buy a drink and then get surrounded by people waiting outside asking for change. Or people getting into your personal space to get for money. People following you and harassing you. etc
That said, I do feel for them and society should be responsible to the people who cant help themselves. If they are found begging and is homeless, there should be social programs to help them get situated into a rooming or housing situation with help to get gainful employment or medical help. If however they are habitual beggars and rather stay on the streets then they should be penalized for it by spending time in prison. They make neighbourhoods and quality of life for everyone around go down, poor or rich doesnt matter.