Being homeless ain't the thang for me. 
Walking around with beat up clothes it's a catastrophe. 
Can't take a shower I'm all funky and hot, 
Staying in a old building sleeping in a cardboard box. 
Living in this world it's a big struggle. 
Trying to do jobs awarding myself with scratches on my knuckles. 
Being poor is like a maze, Being in one place lock up in a cage. 
No water, No food, No place to move, 
Being poor is not nothing to prove. 
It's like getting stab in the heart with a knife, 
I need to get up and change my life. 
Serving people saying Ma'am or Sir, 
Getting out of this hell hole I'm my own answer. 

 Arturo Casarez  

I think that homelessness is a serious issue in the United States. I don't know how homelessness occurs but there are a few that I could think of. One is that they're out of a job or because they don't have anywhere to stay. I really don't know any homeless person. But whenever I see one I try to help them out. I hope that the percentage of homelessness drops in America real soon. It is also a health risk, because they can pick up diseases from the streets that can spread easily. 

 Solomán Juan 

I am poor and I still live good 
Some times I play when I am in a good mood 
Last week I heard a rich talk about poor and I stood 
They think they're so good because they rich but they all snitch 
They talk about we going to Kmart 
but they not even smart 
They go to J.C. Penny 
but we don't waste a penny 
They think they are above 
but they all are out of love 

 Deon'te Allen 

There's a lot of Doctors, Lawyers, and all sorts of high business people that are homeless, mostly from drugs or they were layed off from work. What I'm saying is that every homeless person you see on the street or on the corner behind the liquor store, they didn't choose to be there, well,most of them. Some homeless people were layed off from work because of cut-backs on the government or they was taking drugs and of course cocaine ruined their life. So when you see a transient on the street, you can't just label every one of them, because they have on rags and they're pushing a basket around. Many transients have mental problems or health problems that make it hard for them to work, so you can't go around talking about every homeless person you pass, but you can help them out any way you can. 

 Maria Herrera 

This is the state of being deprived of your needs. When you are poor you find yourself without the basic life demands. These things are food, water, and love. You go about life without these, then you are poor. It doesn't matter if you don't have the preppy shoes or pants everyone is wearing; if you don't have these but have love, food and water then you are NOT poor. It does not matter how much meekness you feel in a "rich man's" home, for you are rich. 

In the streets people are seen sitting outside, dirty, hungry, and with no one that cares. These people would be happy with eating the food we carelessly dispose of. So many people are hungry because of this, because we don't care (honestly). 

This saddens me because this would be solved if we all got together like the brothers and sisters that we are, and work together. 

 Darin Davis 

When you are homeless it doesn't feel good. You feel left out because everybody think you don't have no sense. They never talk to you they just don't want to because you appearance is and how you hygiene. I know a homeless man that always is at the park. But he contribute to the community because he umpires baseball and basketball games. He earns a reasonable amount of money and they give him food from the snack bar. I feel sorry for those less fortunate. That's why I pray that God can keep me well balance. Health Care is beginning to be a problem. They are closing down hospitals. 

 Luis Vasquez 

I think that the homeless issue is very touching because when you see all the people laying down on the streets without clean cloths and all dirty you feel sane and I say to myself what can I do about it and then I leave. 

I hope that people that have money should help the homeless. 

I think that the person that are already grown should work for their food but their kids can't work so thats when they need your help thats all. 

 Mahogany Mora 

I know you see my weakened body as I live on the ground cold, I know you hear my stomach hunger. I know you hear my cry for I do not utter word. I know you hear my plea for i do not have anybody but god. Do you know physically that I am sick. Do you lend out a helping hand to get me to the hospital. And when I appear there do you bother to help heal my hurting wounds. 

Why do you treat me as an outsider when I need medical attention and other necessities. 

Do you know I'm a person 

 Reneé Johnson 

Living in the streets not a dime to my name, 
Not even a car or house to claim, 
My hopes of becoming someone has faded away 
My hopes now are living another day. 
As I walk down the street of my old school, 
I know now that living on the streets is not so cool, 
At night while laying on the cold, hard concrete 
My stomach rumbles from having a little of nothing to eat, 
Going to look for a job is like everyday, 
Because washing windows and pumping gas isn't enough pay, 
I've been here, I've been there 
mother on drugs, and father don't care. 
But whats really bad I have no friends and worst of all it might never end. 

 Naomi Doby 

I laugh, I have fun, I play 
I never have to worry about not having a place to stay 
Throwing tantrums when I don't get what I want 
Not knowing what it feels like to go out and hunt for important things that will help me to survive 
There are many children younger than I out there 3, 4, and 5 
But do I really understand what it feels like to be without a home 
No food, No clothes, No shoes, No telephone 
But why? Why is there so many people out there? 
Sometimes I wonder, It really isn't fair 
Sometimes I ask myself, do they like where they are? 
Sleeping in alleys, boxes and old junk yard cars 
Definitely not yes! Absolutely no! 
Because everybody's trying to go after that cash flo. 
But how did they get there? How did it happen 
I get angry when I see people laughing at them and clapping 
Saying "look at how dirty they are, look at that bum!" 
Then people demoralize them whenever they come up to someone 
Instead of laughing and teasing we should be looking for a solution 
Instead of continuing to look down and adding to the confusion 
So let's think of a way so they too can be free 
But since I wrote this poem, it should begin with me. 

 Jennifer Enoex 

Boxes so large 
Spaces so small 
These are the things 
that make up my walls 

Cement so cold 
Covers so dirty 
More boxes around me 
Keep my house sturdy 

Begging for money 
Finding old clothes 
Looking for something 
to cover our toes 

Giving Donations 
of a quarter or more 
Some hesitate 
Because they think they know what it's for 

Living like animals, 
Hardly ever clean 
People look and laugh 
Because they don't understand what they have seen. 

Walking down the streets 
with nowhere to walk or run 
Material things your people have 
me and my people have none 

Crying for all of your help 
in the midst of our own tears 
Searching for someone, anyone 
to calm of our fears 

These cries for help we ask from you 
you act like you can't hear 
because we are the homeless 
and we will continue to be for years