Question:
Amongst the many yidden who visit our shil daily and ask for tzedaka, are several who - when asked the purpose of their collecting - replied that they have high mortgage payments.... are we obligated to subsidize this expense from our maaser?
Answer:
Hello,
Tzedakah is to be given to poor people. The definition of a poor person is if he doesn't have enough stable income to pay for his basic expenses. A person that does not have enough income to support his usual expenses is allowed to collect tzedaka. Therefore if this person can not pay for his mortgage, and his food electric etc., he is allowed to collect the money and you have a mitzva to help him. If however he does have enough stable income to pay his bills, and he is collecting in order to have more money, and use it for a vacation etc., then it isn't tzedakah at all.
Best wishes
