But to Salt Lake City's Pamela Atkinson, homelessness denotes not only people in need, but also one human being reaching out to another to make life better.
In the end, it means more than a face, another anonymous person needing a meal.
It means friends.
"I grew up in extreme poverty," the United Kingdom-born Atkinson says.
But she brushed any long-ago personal situation aside, preferring to dwell on the here and now, and what prompted her to ever step out of her comfort zone to "get involved."
"My interest in homelessness started in Seattle," decades ago, she recalls.
"I heard a plea on the radio for volunteers to help serve dinner to the homeless on Christmas Day. My family and I went down and just had a great time."
And she's been having a "great time," impacting the lives of thousands ever since.
"The homeless people whom we were serving (in Seattle) were so appreciative."
A move to Utah with her oldest daughter in 1986 didn't extinguish the seed that had been planted within her in Seattle.
"Within a year, I was involved with the Salvation Army here and gradually got to know the other agencies, such as Road Home when that was built, and with the Volunteers of America, helping to start the homeless outreach program which VOA now runs full time," she says.
"Going out in the van, I got to know a lot of homeless people," Atkinson says of the experience that puts her directly in touch with the homeless.
The VOA van outreach can mean handing out bottled water in the heat of summer to stave off dehydration for the homeless, or heavy coats to soften the cold's chill in winter.
It can mean interacting with those who are down and out, whose eyes may be glazed over from heavy drinking or drug use caused by circumstances only they know.
"When I talk about my homeless friends, I mean exactly that," she says. "Many of them are friends. I trust them, they trust me."
That trust has led to great things, not only for the homeless one, but often for the many who are homeless.
The state's Homeless Trust Fund was renamed in Atkinson's honor some years ago.
It's funded by the Utah State Legislature and contributions made by individuals on their Utah Individual Income Tax Form TC-40, and administered by the Department of Community and Culture.
Those funds go to support a variety of agencies across the state, moving people from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Indicative of Atkinson's broad and varied involvement, the fund assists emergency shelters, meals, transitional housing, case management services, homeless outreach and day centers.
Despite her name being on a fund to aid the homeless, Atkinson is not about soaking in praise, but "walking the walk" to get it done.
"There are men and women we've been able to help out in outreach. As I look back on many of these men and women, we don't see them anymore because they have jobs, apartments or homes of their own.
"They don't need the homeless services anymore. Many of them now have large families of their own," she says.
"I've met some people whom I probably haven't seen for six or seven years. I'm just amazed at the transformation."
Sunrise Metro Apartments is just such a "project." As part of Salt Lake County's 10-year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, many groups partnered to make the 100-unit community for formerly homeless singles a reality.
The facility, at 580 South 500 West opened just over a year ago and has been termed the "flagship to show the community that permanent supportive housing which solves issues of the chronic homeless can save taxpayers money and provide dignified housing with services to an ignored population."
Ironically, it's modeled on successful efforts in Seattle as well as the YWCA's Opportunity Place.
"I saw a number of friends there," Atkinson says, speaking of the groundbreaking.
In late February, the Grace Mary Manor complex was unveiled, another facility devoted to solving chronic homelessness.
It follows a philosophy of providing housing as a solid footing for the homeless, rather than services first.
Atkinson looks at the homeless as people who often have physical or mental disabilities, precluding them from working.
"Some of these people who have come off the streets have gotten part-time jobs, sometimes full-time jobs. They have taken a tremendous leap," she says, with some of those people now living at Grace Mary Manor.
"There is counseling to help people back into the workforce. Once they do, how their self-esteem grows, as they receive weekly or twice monthly pay checks," she says.
VOA is among those agencies assisting the homeless who work closely with Atkinson, benefiting from her efforts.
"Pamela has been a valued part of the VOA family for nearly 15 years," says its president and CEO, Kathy Bray. "As one of the founders of the homeless outreach and homeless youth programs we provide in Salt Lake County, she is a true advocate for those in greatest need in Utah.
"Pamela is a weekly volunteer, a teacher and a friend who we admire for her energy and tireless effort in helping the homeless. She has a wonderful gift in being able to connect with people and let them know that they are not alone," she says.
Potential homeless include those who are close to foreclosure on their homes due to the mortgage credit crunch. That's another area where Atkinson and others are reaching out.
Over the years, perception of the homeless, who they really are, has changed, Atkinson believes.
"I think people have made an effort to learn more about homelessness, to learn more about poverty. I think it's people who have educated themselves about these issues who have become much more involved, more accepting. They're asking how they can make a difference."
But again, the homeless aren't "a group" to just be thought of around the holidays.
"One of the things I've tried to get people to understand is that it's great to do a Sub for Santa for a family," Atkinson says. "But once you've done that for a family at Christmas, you need to pick up the phone on the 2nd or 3rd of January, and ask, 'How was your Christmas? What do you need this month? How can I help?'
"It could be with groceries, getting some clothes for the kids, getting them fresh fruit and vegetables, and then doing the same on the 2nd or 3rd of February," she says.
"I've really searched the scriptures. Nowhere have I found to only give at Thanksgiving or Christmas. That's why so many people give at all times of the year.
"One family I helped for 1 1/2 years," Atkinson says. "Now they're doing so well, they only need me as a friend now. They're able to pay their bills. The dad has a great job.
"I started to help them with groceries. When I took some over one day, they were so thrilled," she recalls. "The kids dove in for the apples, oranges and bananas. They were starved for fresh fruit. I noticed they only had three or four items in the refrigerator.
"It's easy to say, 'What do you need?' But sometimes you can see for yourself what a family needs. I think many of us have realized how a small act can make a huge difference in somebody else's life.
"When we make a difference in other people's lives, we certainly make a difference in our own lives," Atkinson says.
For people who may want to get involved in helping the homeless, she advises dealing with an agency that can do screening to find an appropriate, really needy person or family.
"I work with a number of agencies. They're the experts at finding out what their needs are, and the best way to help."
Atkinson has learned she doesn't have to do it all. "All I have to do is put the word out and create opportunities for people who want to serve but don't always know how to do it."
In her spare time, Atkinson enjoys reading and listening to music. "But I most love being with my family, and also love being with friends. I actually do balance my life out. I try to make time for some quiet time, so I can shore up my spiritual life and find out what I'm supposed to be doing.
"I think if you continue to give and give and give, and don't take care of yourself, you can descend into what some of us call emotional bankruptcy. When you're with friends and family, you're doing something for yourself, and you're also receiving."
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