Question about the homeless in Hialeah

While not ideal, I noticed she’s set up home in the construction site across the street. She’s striking so I’ve noticed her around the neighborhood, dark skin very short white hair looks put together but wandering. Yesterday I noticed that she had built a little shelter out of the construction site materials across the street from us, as reference it has to do with the repiping on red road in Hialeah. I’m appalled that they have left this area undone for almost a year, leaving huge pipes where we’ve noticed homeless sleeping before. Anyways as a woman my heart really felt for her to be alone and outside in the heat, so I walked over and offered her food and a few cold water bottles, but she said no. She wouldn’t take them. I don’t get the feeling she’s on drugs or crazy so I’m curious why she would refuse. Side note, I’m not Cuban and it’s a very Cuban neighborhood. I admit that I’m extremely naive but is this a cultural ritual or something? I can’t help but remember seeing her and the first time thinking she was just a regular woman on her way to work, well dressed, etc, and then to see her sleeping on the ground and not accepting any help, I’m confused?