Birmingham-- On any given night in the United States, 750,000 people are homeless. President Bush's 2008 budget proposal includes more than $4 billion for homeless services. Governments, non-profits and churches have all been putting record money into programs, but homelessness keeps rising. It's a problem that vexes Philip Mangano, the executive director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness. The so-called "U-S Homeless Czar" was in Birmingham recently and talked with WBHM's Tanya Ott.

Mangano discusses Birmingham's efforts and what this city can learn from another city that's decreased homelessness by 70% in an extended interview.

A movie inspired Mangano to dedicate his life to the homeless. Hear more in this excerpt from Tapestry.

Every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday night in Birmingham churches feed the homeless in downtown. Click here to see a YouTube video.

-- Tanya Ott, September 11, 2007