A song about homelessness. I live in a very wealthy city - why is there a growing problem with street poverty?

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I attempted to write this song from the point of view of a homeless person, who's been dealing with poverty on the street for many years.

Downtown Fifth Avenue - near Second Street or so
I make my way the way I want to go
I’m not expecting you to – understand it
I don’t imagine that you’d want to know
Live down low – I’m low now – you’d best believe it
I used to care but that was years ago
But if I were there today
You would send me on my way
I’d be left out in the cold
I’d be left out in the cold
I’d be left out in the cold
That’s the way that it goes

The winters round these parts are cold dark and lonely
The wind can cut right through into your heart
I’ve been out here so long that I don’t really notice
Some things are real and some things fall apart
A shelter from the storm – I never found it
Don’t ask me why I won’t know where to start
But if I were there today
You would send me on my way
I’d be left out in the cold
I’d be left out in the cold
I’d be left out in the cold
That’s the way that it goes

My time is gone I know
Your time may come – your time may go
You may look me in the eye and tell me just what you see there

Some things just don’t seem real until you face your demons
Think long and hard ‘bout what you’d say to me
I’ve come to realize that you are no better
Than all the thousand other wannabes
I know you want me gone and I don’t want to be here
At least in this regard we do agree
But if I were there today
You would send me on my way
I’d be left out in the cold
I’d be left out in the cold
I’d be left out in the cold
That’s the way that it goes

Sept, 2006