Bb
I work in Little Rock and I know the bridge you speak of...
I've never turned down a request for food by a homeless person. Only once has one accepted the food after I agreed though! But that is their choice.
I think it may have been better to recommend to the OP that they not let strangers into their home. I know a few people who have been homeless at some point in their lives. Two of them got their lives together and now have good jobs and homes. The other one probably isn't capable of taking care of himself completely. He will always need some kind of assistance, which is not his fault. He still has some wonderful qualities.
Several people I work with volunteer at "Stew Pot", which serves meals to homeless people on a daily basis. It's at the First Pres. Church in downtown LR.
Sorry for going off topic... Just had to comment to BB that I'm familiar with the bridge he mentioned... makes the world feel really small.