This morning, on my way to Peet's for a decaf iced mocha, I saw two young women taking pictures of what at first glance might look like two bundles of clothes on the sidewalk. Since I frequent that particular Peet's, and because I've worked in Berkeley, California, for over a year, I knew that the bundles were two people sleeping on the sidewalk. I'm not sure why that spot is a favorite, but I'm sure I'd know if I had the misfortune to be homeless in Berkeley.

I would like to think that the two...