In this ethnographic study Johannes Lenhard observes the daily practices routines and techniques of people who are sleeping rough on the streets of Paris The book focusses on their survival practises their short term desires and hopes how they earn money through begging how they choose the best place to sleep at night and what role drugs and alcohol play in their lives The book also follows people through different institutional settings including a homeless day centre a needle exchange a centre for people with alcohol problems and a homeless shelter