Steve: "I’ve been out on the streets off and on for like thirteen years."

STEVE DOESN'T LIE ABOUT WHAT PUT HIM ON THE STREETS.

Steve: "Drinkin' and druggin'.”

IN ANY CITY, WE STRUGGLE WITH WHAT TO DO WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE LIKE STEVE. WE WANT TO BE COMPASSIONATE, BUT DON’T WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOMEONE’S DESTRUCTIVE HABITS. WE CAN FEEL LIKE A SUCKER IF WE HELP, GUILTY IF WE DON’T.

Woman on the street: "I don't want people to be cold and hungry."

REVEREND SHIRLEY MAJORS-JONES RUNS COMMUNITY CARE FELLOWSHIP - A UNITED METHODIST MINISTRY THAT HELPS THE HOMELESS. SHE KNOWS THE PUBLIC CAN BE CYNICAL ABOUT THE REASONS PEOPLE END UP IN NEED.

Shirley Majors-Jones / Community Care Fellowship - “I really have not found anybody in all the 31,000 people we served last year that said ‘I really love being homeless.’”

Larry / Street person on corner panhandling: "I have to do this maybe two or three times a week during the hard times."

SO WHAT CAN IT HURT TO SHARE A LITTLE CASH? AT LEAST IT MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE’RE DOING SOMETHING.

Bob Cote / Step 13: "They're committing suicide on the installment plan. What you’re doing is helping to destroy them."

BOB COTE IS A FORMER STREET ALCOHOLIC WHO FOUNDED "STEP 13," A SHELTER WHERE RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK AND STAY SOBER.

Bob Cote: "This coupon good for one free meal. Need a job, a place to live? Step 13 offers you a chance to take charge of your life."

ADVOCATES AGREE THAT CHANGE IS WHAT THE HOMELESS NEED, BUT NOT THE KIND OF CHANGE IN YOUR POCKET.

Shirley Majors-Jones: “There are a lot of problems we need to ask ourselves how we can solve for those who are disenfranchised and marginalized. We need to be asking ourselves those kinds of questions, instead of making the homeless the bad guys. They’re just doing what they have to do in order to survive.”