This paper explores how local governments managed the problem of beggars in Southern Taiwan under Qing rule. In the first half of eighteenth century, the court decided to send the beggars back to their ancestral home. However, contemporary officials in Taiwan did not do that. Instead, the officials designated the beggar chiefs of county almsgiving houses to manage the beggars. The county almsgiving houses were the official shelters set by local government during Qing, although the construction of the almsgiving house in southern Taiwan was abandoned. Nonetheless, the beggar chiefs were asked to manage the beggars by the officials and were held responsible for instances of beggars harassing the common people. Besides, in order to save the costs, the officials asked the common people to pay the administrative expense. Then the beggar chiefs distributed the fees to the beggars. This policy brought about a group of beggars who need not beg.