Many retired vets learn to go on the land... It doesn't seem like such a terrible way to live to me... especially after having lived for long stretches in third world countries...
I know it's different than pan handeling, but there's this old woman who use to play homeless and she would go home to a big house and drove a Mercedes.
When I think about it, the thought of a homeless old woman is more heartbreaking, and I can imagine they recieve more donation from strangers when they appear homeless.