Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US tramp) a tramp who subsists on nothing but handouts.

1918		‘A-No. 1’ Mother of the Hoboes 44: The Rating Of The Tramps. 23 Pokey Stiff: subsisted on handouts solely.
1927		‘Jargon of the Und.’ in DN V 459: Pokey stiff, A tramp who lives altogether upon the lunches given him by housewives.
1931		Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. Sl. 148: Pokey Stiff.—A tramp or bum living entirely on the food or ‘poke outs’ obtained from householders, and not begging money on the streets. Usually a term of derision for the individual not able to make a living by ‘mooching the stem.’.