Locally it's a loosely organized group of NGOs that monopolizes the distribution of the governmental and private funding earmarked to mitigate homelessness.  The HI prides itself on "fundraisers" which are held at swank hotels. Politicians are invited to dine and drink for free and to give platitude filled speeches to journalists and bloggers who also eat and drink for free. Those few present who actually pay to be admitted are seeking access to the politicians in attendance to advance their private agendas, unrelated to homelessness. The fundraisers breakeven at best but when the politicians later distribute the money earmarked for the homeless it always goes to their hosts, the incumbent HI service providers, even if their shelter beds are empty and their food banks serve slop to a few vagrants. The self-generated favorable PR is the goal of both the politicians and the HI. The homeless are useful props for photos and interviews that tug at the heartstrings of the gullible pubic.