The recent homelessness crisis was just discussed in this article in The Atlantic. TLDR: high rates of homelessness is caused by the high price of housing. US cities with high rates of poverty, drug use, and mental illness also have the lowest rates of homelessness, so the problem isn’t caused by those. Most homeless people are locals who have been in the area for a long time, so the idea that they moved here because we treat them better is also baseless. Legalizing more types of naturally affordable housing would mostly fix the crisis and help the rest of people struggling with high rent. An apartment block on your street might be an eyesore, but it’s a hell of a lot better than a tent city