it's far too expensisive. what i earn on the street is not enough for housing or even food.elene: it's really very sad that we can't be together as a family. what with him on the street, and my daughter and i living apart from him. reporter: at the nursery school, they act as if everything is normal. they don't want anyone here to find out they've become homeless. at 7:00 a.m., gilson begins his day. he walks 15 or 20 kilometers looking for any work. the state doesn't even provide him a bus ticket, let alone a meal. that's left to charitable citizens, who sometimes come by with breakfast, like here in the flamengo quarter, not far from the atlantic coast. they give him water, juice, a sandwich, and coffee. gilson: these people do a great service, it's wonderful. i like coming here. and this coffee is important to me. reporter: around 300 homeless people have come here today. for most, their troubles began just last year. >> everything was fine up until the olympics. there were enough jobs. but after the games, it all fell apart. we were completely caught up in the crisis, an