Strange Human Behaviors

The other day, Animal Refuge Center in Muncie, IN flooded.  They lost electricity, the furnace went out, animals were dangerously deep in this water, etc.  Within a couple of hours, all the dogs had foster homes.  A few more hours and all of the cats had foster homes.
My question
Why do we not feel sympathetic for our fellow man/woman when they are on the streets?  Why would we take in a stray animal before letting a human stranger stay in our home?

And yes, my roommate and I are part of this statistic.
This is Hortence; also known as Kitty or Sabrina.
She is our foster cat until her home is fixed.

 

John Legend & The Roots - Humanity