A national problem with local manifestations. A global phenomenon. The problem is getting worse because we are addressing it at the level of symptoms, blaming homeless for their behavior, getting angry at presence of homelessness and homeless people, blaming homeless people for homeless ness. Homelessness is not a choice. In order for a choice to be a choice, you must have a choice.
Homelessness is about the absence of choices.
Loss of affordable housing. Increase in poverty and rise in cost of living No Support. Punishment of the homelessness does not work and costs too much. I sit on a man's back choking him, doing everything I can to let him know how sorry I am for his condition, doing everything I can to help him, except get off his back. Late 80's women with children glad for once I did not have kids Now California state budget cuts, universities laying off faculty, talking about closing departments and entire campuses.