Agreed it's tough. I've never seen any of those movies but after living downtown in a city with about 400k people I've known a few addicts and homeless people.

Agreed it's tough. I've never seen any of those movies but after living downtown in a city with about 400k people I've known a few addicts and homeless people. The vast majority had no intention of getting on the right track and would steal from anyone the second the opportunity presented itself. I think it's important to help the people who genuinely want to get on the right track. But I have no sympathy for someone who thinks contracting AIDS is a way to improve their lot in life.