I don't live in a heavily populated "inner city" area of the US so my observations may not hold true country-wide.

However, one thing that I *have* seen in the areas where I have lived, (Oregon, Virginia, Michigan and Alaska) is that no one- child, woman or man - should have to go hungry. We have soup kitchens and shelters that see to that. And another one pops up whenever one shelter is at capacity.

Going homeless in preference to sleeping or hanging out in a shelter is a more problematic question. I have known homeless men who say that they prefer to sleep under a bridge, for instance, to staying in a shelter. As one man told me, in the shelters there is always a boss, a bully, who is the one who decides what time the lights go out, if the windows are open or shut, if there is any talking.

My only 'expertise' in this area is that I have done volunteer work (tutoring, as well as helping serve dinner) in a shelter and I have often hired workmen from there as casual laborers. In the process I have talked with many.

One man, perhaps more motivated than most, agonized over it. As he said, How do I start over? A few days of painting or hauling or cleaning won't bring me enough money to get an apartment. If you don't have an address, you're not going to get a job...

In one way a woman with small children is in a better situation than a single man is. There don't appear to be as many options for men; fewer people care.