Though faith leaders promote charitable acts, the disparity between rich and poor is growing. Well-meaning volunteers spend count less hours trying to help out. Others donate money to charitable organizations, or give cash to those on the street whenever they can. As hunger, homelessness, poverty, problems of addiction and family abuse continue, a debate is raging about whether charity as it exists now can solve these complex social problems. Partly is it a question of scope.
Charity needs to be large, and consistent, if it is going to deal with large problems.
St. Vincent de Paul and other faith-based charities successfully built supportive housing, but when the Federal government stopped contributing, few charities could do it alone. Appealing to give more isn't working. We have tax and donor fatigue, with many feeling that requests for increased government funding or charitable giving is just more guilt and not relevant to their lives. Those who more readily respond to these appeals often see it as a question of justice rather than charity. 13th century Jewish theologian Moses Maimonides promoted charity, but recommended working towards justice when possible.