It's the second year that David Timothy (above), founder of the faith-based SoupMobile charity, has organized lodging and a banquet in what he calls the Christmas Angel Project.

"Last year we did this with 100 homeless people. This year I said to our staff, 'We're going to take a leap of faith and do it with 200,' " Mr. Timothy said.

Volunteers from churches and elsewhere help with transportation, check-in and the banquet. Donations cover the deeply discounted lodging costs, he said.

He signs up homeless people for the event as he's serving meals in downtown Dallas, in the SoupMobile van he has operated since 2003. Nearly 30 percent who have signed up this year are women, he said.