Giving poor people money directly appears to work. This is counter to who we who are in the first world think however. This article discusses what the people do with the money; things such as starting a business or investing in a roof that has lower total cost of ownership. If this method of charity works, what does it say about the brick and mortar charities?
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/08/23/214210692/the-charity-that-just-gives-money-to-poor-people