Well, although I don't call them "bums", I have occasionally given people $5 or $10 when I could afford it. I certainly know how it is to be in need and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, whether they got themselves into that situation or whether it was through something more temporary like being laid off of work, I still feel they deserve to be cared for as human beings.
Once there was a guy who washed my windshield at a stoplight in midtown Atlanta and the guy I was dating didn't want me to give him any money. When we drove off I told him how I felt sorry for the guy and I wanted to do something for him, but my boyfriend said he was afraid the guy would buy alcohol with it. (Well, personally I didn't care too much what he bought with it. If he bought a pint of whiskey and then went hungry it would be his own responsibility.) But anyway, I finally talked him into doing something nice for the guy. We went to Subway and bought him a foot long sub, a pack of chips, a cookie and a drink and took it back to him. The poor guy was so happy he actually cried. That was more thanks than I ever could have hoped for. Just seeing the look in his eyes as he opened the bag and breathed heavily, smelling the fresh food... that was amazing. I wish I could have done more for him. Given him a hotel room for the night or something.
