The strategy that involves the most risk-taking is that of shoplifting. For some, however, it is a way to avoid the degradation involved in both begging and dumpster diving. Although many stores do prosecute, those who shoplift for food appear willing to take a calculated risk with their public image as well as their criminal record - on the one hand, they can walk out of the store with no one the wiser, on the other they risk the embarrassment and hassle of criminal prosecution.
Finally, there are the so-called legitimate methods of eating enough, via public assistance and charitable organizations. Food stamps, "soup kitchens," and visits to the food shelf are examples of the types of resources available to the chronically poor. There are several determinants involved in taking advantage of these benefits: acceptance, eligibility, know-how, and time.
The first step toward taking advantage of these programs is the willingness of the individual to admit he or she needs help. As with begging, many are not willing to concede that they require public assistance nor do they want the stigma of meeting with social workers or pulling out their food-stamps (now actually a card) in line at the grocery store. In particular, those who have not "grown up in the system" fear the stigma attached to it more than those who have friends or family members also in the same situation.
Eligibility can also present a challenge. College students, for example, are ineligible for most food assistance benefits, because their "income" (loans, work-study, grant funds) exceeds required maximums, even though this income may be fully applied to tuition costs. Additionally, these students often suffer from seasonal poverty, in times when summer jobs aren't widely available, as with recent years. Others who also have a challenging time with eligibility issues are those who don't want to be tracked by the government (runaways, fugitives, illegal immigrants), those who have no residence, and the working poor.
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