The vacant homes are in rural places in flyover states. The places where demand dwarfs supply are cities. Homeless people primary problem is money to survive - which is easier to get in cities.
If you could magically house all homeless people in these homes, the owners wouldn't see a dime in rent and the previously homeless would starve without income for food.
This is a good point, but I think there could be a better pathway. For example I live in a 1 bed 1 bath condo, and my rent is $1100 a month in South Scottsdale.
I have the money and capabilities to move up in housing to a 3 bed 2 bath house, but I don't because valuations are inflated and interest rates are neck snapping. When I don't move up in housing, someone lower in the totem pole can't move into my 1 bed 1 bath.
People being locked into their situations is what in my opinion can contribute towards a bad pathway for getting a place to live in.
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