In Wenatchee, WA where I live, homeless shelters have a firm "no alcohol or drugs" rule that dissuades addicts. Often addicts cannot abide by these rules.

Also, our homeless shelters make people leave after breakfast at 8:30 am., letting them back inside at 4:00 p.m.

During cold winters, where can homeless folks go with restrooms and a waiting room? The library.

It's sad these homeless people feel happiest when people treat them with a crumb of kindness, or act like they are a human being, not a pile of rags.

I liked the article. It does make sense that a simple hello from some can make a person feel better.
We need to make the world a better place by talking to each other.

I do some work with the homeless and agree with everything here in this article. It’s all about recognising and responding to their humanity. We must never stop looking at them as fellow human beings, they all have individual stories and needs. It is sometimes easier and more comfortable for the rest of us to pretend we don’t see them, that way we don’t have to consider the deeper implications that our society isn’t working properly for every citizen, and why we need to find out why. I read that last year when Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in Windsor, the local council wanted to remove all the homeless to some shelter for the duration of the time that the media spotlight was on the town.....! I’m sure they never thought any further than just considering them to be a problem needing to be removed for a few days, in order to sanitise the streets of any detritus, prior to television beaming the wedding to an audience all around the world. That would have been seen as a stain on the character of Windsor, and the country....and all in the shadow of Royalty and Windsor Castle, the contrast would have shown us up. I bet you anything, these homeless people were not found permanent accommodation, or given any lasting help by the people who swept them away for a brief time......once it was all over, I’m sure they were let back onto the streets and are probably still being passed daily, whilst others look the other way.

We do not have homeless people here in the country, at least not visible ones.We have lots of lonely people who come to the supermarket or the [post office to be with people from the community. They say hello and how are you and hope you will answer. I always do, although I do not remember him or her specifically. Parts of our conversation is always about whom we know in common - that is often enough to stir our memory. We talk, about us or the apple harvest or sometimes just the weather, but we talk. People want to be recognized and acknowledged, and that's true for me as well.

Something anyone can do for a homeless person: As you pass by, look them in the eye and say hello, or at least nod. The worst part of homelessness (and often, poverty even if housed) is the denial of one's humanity.

It is free, and it always works.