Tom McNamara: Friends and family thought I was having a midlife crisis when I sold my house and traveled the US giving socks to the homeless

Chris Arnade: Misplaced fear of low income communities only makes things worse, perpetuating the problems and keeping resources away

Chris Arnade: People – regardless of income and health – want to be treated respectfully. They want friends, not someone on a crusade

William, homeless student in New York: It's impossible to succeed unless you can escape being homeless. My grades went kaputz when I lived in the shelters

Andres Serrano for Creative Time Reports: I purchased 200 signs from homeless people in New York City. The collection tells the story of poverty in America and the world

Maryann Hedaa and Chris Arnade: Poverty is an invisible thief that steals childhood dreams. You can't expect a child to excel, when from birth they are tasked as an adult.

Mary, homeless in New York: Since I became homeless, people have stolen my belongings and assumed I'm a prostitute. A few have been incredibly kind

Daniel A Medina: Mainstream media give very little coverage to poverty and the working class. It's a public interest failure

Chris Arnade: Opponents of reform don't see how lucky they are to have easy access to healthcare. For homeless addicts, it's a different reality

Chris Arnade: I left my Wall Street trader job and began photographing drug addicts in NYC. These two worlds have entirely different rules