Mitchell Gibbs, the director of development at Front Steps, the shelter that houses the project volunteers, said he advised Mr. Radia on how best to set up the program. He said he was surprised by all the criticism of the project, which he said had inspired an “entrepreneurial spirit” among its homeless participants.

“It’s an employment opportunity, regardless of who is offering it,” Mr. Gibbs said.

The human hot spots seemed unconcerned as well. One volunteer, Clarence Jones, 54, said he was originally from New Orleans and became homeless in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“Everyone thinks I’m getting the rough end of the stick, but I don’t feel that,” Mr. Jones said. “I love talking to people and it’s a job. An honest day of work and pay.”

We’ve come full-circle on this whole thing. Probably the best take we’ve seen on this debate is from Megan Garber of The Atlantic, who argues that it’s not as bad as it might seem. “Yes, it’s gimmicky; yes, it’s weird; yes, it’s initially kind of offensive,” she writes. ”It’s right that our gut reaction to Homeless Hotspots is disbelief and disgust; it’s right that we’re alarmed at the idea of turning people into platforms. It’s also right, though, that we take the next step to ask ourselves: What’s the alternative? That we go on ignoring homelessness?” If we had to choose between the two, the bigger problem here is not the hotspot, but the homelessness. Having seen the results and getting feedback from readers, we can say this: This is a gimmick, and in the end, one more effective at causing anger than solving the problem; homelessness is the real deal. The thing you should take from all this is that you should figure out a way to help, sans gimmicks. (ht Melissa Weigand)