with that, i'd like to introduce yolanda morris et. [applause] >> about 15 years ago, i came to san francisco because i was being abused and i fled that relationship. i didn't know anyone in san francisco, i left my clothes and i didn't look back. i was also an au addict and i was an alcoholic and i was homeless. i came here and slept in the alley. i've been every street out here that you can name and through the years i did want to get help. i didn't know how. and so after more abusive relationships, i finally got a good guy and it was his choice for us to get clean. he said we gotta get clean in order to make it here in san francisco. i'm going to stop doing what i can do so that you can get your act together. and so i decided -- because i've been in all the shelters out here. i know how the shelters work. i decided to stay next door. i stayed there for a year. and i behaved. from there, i went into an s.r.o. they placed me in a single-room occupancy is what it is called. a room with a bathroom and i stayed there for five years and p

. >> reporter: as yolanda morris proved, it is possible. she was once homeless and suffering from depression and drug abuse. what do we tell people out there about these people, people like you were? >> have compassion when you see people out there. everybody has a story to tell. just have compassion and if you're not going to be for the solution, then you might as well be part of the problem too. >> reporter: so i wanted to leave with you that very important message. before the different agencies would have their own information and they wouldn't necessarily share that information with other agencies. now they are. for example, one will share information on who arrived here at this agency to receive services. another one will have their name. another agency will have, for example, where in san francisco they are located and now they are sharing all that information. that information was put into a database. that is how the city of san francisco arrived at this number 4,000. abc 7 news. >> thank you. we really do want to hear your ideas abo