"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor." -Proverbs 14:31, KJV.

One of the things that God has called His children to do is to take care of the poor. This theme is found throughout the Bible, from how the poor were to be treated in the OT, and the fact that we would always have this task as found in the NT. The US government has taken this role upon themselves, and it is bankrupting our nation. Relief to those in need is supposed to go through the local church. The church can then check and see what the root cause is, and help accordingly. (For example, if the individual needs work to get food, the church can give them some work or point them in the right direction.) This also would keep from those who "leech" onto the kindness of others. We are not to encourage slothfulness, but if we financially support them, then we are spiritual hurting them. The point is that we are to have mercy on the poor (for often it is through no fault of their own), and that part of this mercy is to help them get back on their feet.