We can highlight five historical variables as regards to poverty, appreciated here with the prism of those called today the homeless. The contexts are sometimes not easily comparable. Substantial evolutions are to be taken into account. It does not remain about it less than five elements, with varied degrees, which characterize homelessness policies. Interested in roots and contemporary forms of those policies this paper notices first that it has always been difficult to name and to count the homeless. The “good” or the “true” poor has always been distinguished from the “bad” or the “false” poor. Invariably policies oscillate between solidarity and security. The cities are still committed in an unstable co-operative game when it is a question of accomodating or to push back the homeless people. Lastly, it has always been difficult to coordinate the many actors intervening in this field.