The whole idea of it being criminal is absurd. If I was to give someone a gift, what the fuck does it matter where they do or do not live? What are Republicans going to do, ban Christmas now or something too? lol, is this is the real war on Christmas they're always complaining about? :P
I could maybe see some versions of this that make sense. In my home city, for example, it's illegal to panhandle from cars along the curbside, and there's practical reasons for that. There were intersections that used to have homeless people claiming "turf" on busy corners where cars had to stop at red lights and it was dangerous for everyone involved.
This being Texas, though, I'm sure practical reasons are only there as an excuse for the cruelty.
Not only does the state increasingly criminalize being un-housed, they are increasingly using their power to harass people who have any empathy and try to make a positive impact on the world for no profit motive. There is big money in helping "the homeless" as long as you don't actually do anything. All facets of government in the U.S. has become a system of graft and corruption. Mr. Smith wouldn't even get the chance to go to Washington because the DNC is just as complicit as the GOP.