Martin Sheen portrays Mitch Snyder in this true story of the activist and his work to help the homeless in Washington, DC. He says of the situation, "The President's nearest neighbor is a bag lady...she sleeps down the road from the Oval Office."

 

Sheen was so moved by Snyder's work that he organized the "Grate American Sleepout" in 1987 to bring attention to the problem. Joined by other actors and more than a dozen Congressmen, Sheen huddled with supporters and homeless people over two steam vents in front of the Library of Congress.