The book provides an overview of the problem of homelessness, a review of current legal issues, a description of successful partnerships with social service programs, and a model public-private partnership. Individual chapters address the following topics: (1) historical perspectives on homelessness; (2) new municipal ordinances regulating homeless people; (3) the double-edged sword of advocacy for the homeless; (4) police as the forgotten service provider; (5) compassionate enforcement of regulations concerning the homeless; (6) San Francisco's Matrix Program; (7) domestic violence and homelessness; (8) effective response to the homeless mentally ill; (9) the use of sanctions to solve family problems; (10) the homeless in transit facilities; (11) homelessness and the police in Phoenix; (12) Baltimore's Project Connect; and (13) the Portland model of public-private partnerships. Notes, tables, index