In February 1987 a census was conducted of homeless persons living in the 22 homeless shelters in the Birmingham Statistical Area as well as persons living on the streets in a 368-square-mile area. Interviews with a sample of 150 homeless persons 2 months later focused on lifestyles, personal histories, and personal resources. Street users were typically male, poorly educated, and socially detached. Shelter users were more often female, high school or college graduates, and socially attached. Vulnerability was apparently a more salient characteristic of the shelter user. Street users, on the other hand, tended to perceive shelters as an intrusion upon their autonomy. Overall, the findings suggest the need for more autonomous settings for the homeless that meet emergency needs without developing dependency and loss of personal mastery over the environment. 3 tables, 8 references.