[This summer] there was a certain theme struck by a lot of local politicians, the mayor and the city manager. They felt that they needed more resources. Once again, more resources have come to Cambridge.

The intent here is to end homelessness.

Don't give them just a blanket and a bowl of soup. Give them housing and services, and eventually that person goes out and gets a job.

The very definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

We've been bailing the leaky boat of homelessness ... only to see more people fall in.

The political will of Mayor Newsom on this issue is perhaps unparalleled in this country, and that's why San Francisco is seeing a turnaround on its streets. What happens here in San Francisco will ripple across the country.

Can we reach into the disaster and pull out something that will be helpful to historically homeless people? I think the answer to that is yes.

It's an unnatural act for consenting (city and county officials) to work together. It's an ambitious plan, but what social wrongs in our society have been rectified without an ambitious plan?

The storm victims never, ever thought they would be homeless. So you never know what might be the event that catapults you into homelessness. And that's why there's this tremendous amount of sympathy for these families.