> I'd much rather instead of me giving money to the government, the government giving money to a charity organization, and then that charity organization giving it to the people I'd want a much more direct way of doing this transaction, preferably a way that is verifiable and with little overhead.

I live in an area of the country known in the media for its giving of money to the needy. A lot of the money goes through charities and non profits. I don't see how the added layer benefits the homeless at all.