For five cents a man could get a glass of beer and floor room to sleep on in a lodging-house for homeless men.

This was called a "Five Cent Flop" house.

My pals were not able at times to raise the five cents a day to buy sleeping quarters.

It was late fall and too cold to sleep in the "jungle" down by the levee.
The poor fellows were able to stave off starvation by visiting various free lunches during the day.

Every night I arrived with my dollar, and that meant beer and beds for a score.