I can believe it. Your travel4seniors.com editor hikes twice a day along several miles of Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, California. The final 20 miles of nationwide Route 66, runs from downtown Los Angeles to the oceanfront beaches in the city of Santa Monica.

With growing numbers of homeless in the area, I encounter at least five or six beggars daily. In some locations, such as next to posh restaurants, bars and supermarkets, they get steady handouts of tax-free dollar bills and more.

Advice: Because many street people have mental and addiction problems, don’t hand out money to them in your travels. Too often it goes for drugs and alcohol. You’ll help much more effectively by contributing to your local Red Cross, Salvation Army and other agencies that help the homeless. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6791637/Homeless-beggars-making-200-DAY-reveals-ex-soldier-says-11lb-streets.html#comments