There is that Gordon Lightfoot song, the name of which escapes me now. Old man came home from the forest, or something like that. As he is dying he remembers being a happy child. I think of it whenever I see a homeless old beggar asleep on a grate. It's on one of his early LP's, maybe his first one. He wrote some great songs in those days.

I think some of those hard-times-in-Old-England songs might be of assistance too, but someone with better specific knowledge would have to help you. I know I have heard some which mention homeless farm labourers and such. I think there are broadside ballads which deal with the plight of the homeless poor, but perhaps you are looking for something more current. I've read historical accounts of times being so hard that travelling farm labourers had no work, and were being found dead of starvation. Someone must have written a ballad about it at some point.

I like When This Old Hat Was New, sung by Chris Foster on All Things In Common, which Nigel was kind enough to send to me, but as poor as the old man is I think he still has the dignity of shelter left to him, although in short supply of food, warmth, and human kindness.