The coalition launched a drive three years ago to raise a $10 million endowment. It was just gaining momentum when the Sept. 11 attacks hit, Crane said. To date, it has collected $2.5 million.

The money would go to build and maintain the housing. "A lot of people think it's a pipe dream," Crane said.

But "unless you have a residential program, you're really kind of spinning your wheels."

Dutton agrees.

"This is really where the nation is going," she said. "It's a housing-first approach."

The Larsens would be ideal candidates for such a program. But housing first to them means somehow scraping enough money together to stay in their apartment, however depressing it may be.

"It's better than nothing," Chris Larsen said. "It's better than sitting out there in the cold."

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