One man can't solve it. Its a deep problem and I don't pretend to know how it can be solved or if it can be 100% solved.

This is not an order of importance or anything just stream of thought.

At least in some places in the US like California the state run mental hospitals were closed or the laws reformed that essentially resulted in many people that would be in an institution being on the street. I'm not a fan of the state and I don't have an answer but this part of the problem gets ignored very often.

Private institutions supported by communities and faith orgs have been doing good work here helping people that want help but what do you do with those that refuse help? I don't have an answer. I think you let them be until they commit a crime and then that must be handled.

In many places were you see massive homeless populations there is a short supply of housing. And in many a short supply also means very expensive housing. Local and state governments artificially manipulate the market by forcing home builders to build housing of a certain size and style which increases costs and affects the free market in many complex ways. I believe this leads to higher prices and lower supply making it harder for people to find housing. Much of the problem I see is that local governments over zoning do not want low income friendly housing so they regulate building. So this is not a government problem as much as a cultural problem enabled through government. People are able to take cover under the government and claim they care about the poor while their "representative" represent the wealthy.

It is insane that so many businesses require licensing and tons of red tape. Reforming these rules would make it easier for people to earn a living. We don't need the state in these transactions. We have tools where we can rate businesses and they can build respect and reputation outside of the government. Private governance. Non-centralized governance. The people voting directly with their money and voices.

Drug abuse is very common in the homeless population. Great work is being done my non-profits and churches but it isn't enough. I would say end the drug war and focus on getting people free from the prison of addiction.

I've heard it many times from people that work with homeless populations. The single biggest factor for most homeless people is they lost their community. They lost their support system. That might be friends and/or family. Many times this goes back to drug addiction but humans need community. This is why they group together in encampments.

The private sector programs that I have seen being successful focus on building community. Sometimes this means tiny houses and hiring people to work in businesses. Having game nights where people can feel human again.

The answer isn't handing people money. It takes people that care and give of their time, talent, and treasure. Government will never solve this problem. Money alone can't solve it either.

The devaluation of the dollar is a massive issue. The inflation of the money supply has dramatically affected these people. The impact is crazy. The whole melting ice cube of fiat increases the spread between the haves and have nots. Its not "capitalism" per say. Its fiat money. If you wanna call that capitalism OK. Lets agree that the problem isn't the free market.

I'm a Christian and it is impossible to follow the way of Jesus and have no care for the poor. For the widow and the orphan. In the US the many Christian organizations do a lot to help those in need. Its not enough and I think that is a shame. I believe the church can and should do better. I should do better. This is why I'm writing this. For far to long the church has stood back and let the state take the lead in this work. That's one reason it is so bad. Churches are plugged into their communities in ways a state/gov worker will never be. They can be the hands and feet of Jesus. Loving and helping those in need. I'm very grateful that our little town has several churches that feed and help people in need. There are many opportunities to serve and I enjoy it every time I do it. As the US become more and more secular we lose something precious. A faith that bonds us together as a people.

This problem is complex and growing. The bottom line is the state is not incentivized to fix it. But, even if they were I don't think bureaucracies can fix it. From what I've seen most people just don't wanna talk about it or even think about it.

Some think, that's what my tax money is for. Well, its being wasted and in many cases doing harm. Others just don't care. They see these people as disposable. They see them as criminals. They see them as losers. Others like to think that they care and say they care but then support policies that make the problem worse.

I think everyone should do this at least one time.

Find a local shelter or org that tries to help people that are homeless. Volunteer in some way. It is best if you interact and get to talk to people. You will find some of these people might remind you of yourself. And you might realize that if things went a different way in your life you might be in their shoes.

We are responsible for our choices but we have all made mistakes. Most of us are very fortunate that we are able to recover from those mistakes. Many of us have family, friends, and communities that have our backs.