Yes, I saw some of the worst treatment of the homeless on YouTube, which usually entails a group of privileged teenagers taking advantage or committing violent acts against homeless people for "fun".  You flag the videos and they are never taken down. As long as these videos are being validated, the perpetrators will become more and more violent toward the homeless for their "entertainment."

I was in a park when a group of boys, maybe mid to late teens, arrived and lingered around the edges awhile. They then swaggered into the park and began to try to engage and provoke and challenge various individuals, with blatant basis like "why are you looking at me; don't look at me!", etc. And trying to escalate the hostility, challenges and seemingly wanting to goad their target to violence -- eventually just beginning to outright verbally threaten anyway.

What they didn't realize is that despite their doing so with guys that appeared to be "alone", quite a number of people around either knew one another or were familiar or recognizant of each other. And all among the local  homeless. The kids seemed aware enough of the latter (of course, when a middle-aged man or elder is in a park known for that with a backpack and sleeping bag, it's probably a fair guess) and included the word "homeless" in their embittered insults and threats ("Goin' to beat yo' homeless a**....!).

When it all had gone on too far and they were encircling one guy, the rest of us all began to saunter over, coming from several directions. Then there was that loaded moment -- as they noticed.

They wheeled around, fell silent and then quickly retreated back to a perimeter sidewalk in a tightening cluster where they quickly and quitely conferred a bit. Finally, they shouted out their final threats... that they'd be back once it was dark to "kill you homeless m*********!"

As if they'd actually gone there special, just for that kind of action.

I've seen this happen on a train here in Los Angeles. A mentally ill homeless woman waS being assaulted by 2 teenage girls and they picked at her cart, etc. clearly upsetting the woman. I think I was the only person that tried to stop it. I had to finally call the conductor on the intercom.

What the hell has happened to kids? My parents always taught me to treat EVERYONE equally, no matter where they live. Unfortunately, it seems like this generation has lost respect for all things that are living. (I'm not even going to mention the recent spate of animal mutilations by teenagers.) I'm 36 this week, and I have never seen a more heartless generation of kids. And I thought we "GenX'ers" were bad!!

It is good to see others who care about America's homeless. However, there is nothing wrong with caring about people who live in other countries. The world is full of problems. People have different passions, different interests. There are some people who would say the same thing back to you: why care about the U.S. homeless, who sometimes make $40+ per day, when there are families who make $1/day? I am not making this argument, but it could easily be made. So please respect that all these issues are important, and ignoring one is the equivalent of ignoring the rest.

I don't think anyone is minimizing the plight of homeless or indigent anywhere in the world. 

For the record, I volunteer in homeless shelters here in LA and I have yet to meet a homeless person that makes $40+ a day.

I've personally known or met some individuals that are homeless that make more than that. One or two, quite more. Maybe not every day, though.

And they are sure the exceptions. Most I've known don't even usually, or ever, panhandle.