I see many, many homeless people everyday. Last week I was in a hurry and sat down on the subway next to a homeless man. Within seconds I almost passed out from the overpowering stench of his clothes and body. For some reason, perhaps pity, I didn't want him to see me get up and move to the other end of the car. So I sat there for an agonizing 10 minutes until my stop, and gasped for fresh air when I emerged from the underground. I thought about it - what if I was him, and all I wanted was to not smell like that. How would I do it? I'd need a shower with soap, and new clothes - no way we could clean those old ones. With no friends or support, I had no idea how I'd do it short of begging enough for a bar of soap and then jumping into a chlorinated fountain in a park. And then what? Maybe I smell better for a day or two and then it starts all over again. I'll try to be less judgmental about the homeless, after realizing that.