There was an incredible limited-run podcast series hosted by the 99% Invisible podcast: According to Need.[0] It tracked the experiences of unhoused people in the Bay Area. Essentially, there's no way to get help if you're in the position of most unhoused people. Some aspect of your situation will disqualify you. Had a couch to sleep on any time in the last 30 days? You don't qualify for a cot in a shelter, even if it was only for one night.

There was also a woman who qualified for a paid apartment, but was afraid to take it because she had a physical limitation that made it difficult to go to the pharmacy and someone at her encampment did that for her. She would be far away from anyone she knew and she feared not getting her meds. Imagine having the dream (four walls and a roof) and still being afraid that it would do you more harm than sleeping outside. As someone diagnosed bi-polar, I understand her fear completely.

Having been broke enough to forage for berries and plums in my neighborhood under cover of darkness, walking miles to go dumpster diving at bakeries and discount grocery stores (I came up empty-handed at every location), spending a dollar a day to get a russet potato because at least that was filling, unable to buy cheap dishes after all the old ones broke because I had to buy paper plates over and over (receiving cheap dishware for xmas was one of the best gifts of my life), walking two miles to a bank branch to cash a check because I needed the money now, not when it'd post, holy crap does it take a lot to live on the edge. And I never ended up on the street.

My life has radically changed in the years since and I was joking with a friend thirty minutes ago about being a snob about my computing and spending money on stuff that's nice to have but unnecessary (10GB ethernet, for example). I'm extremely lucky. I can't imagine how to come back had I not had multiple extreme moments of good luck plus family that was willing to help me out more than a few times. I see the same people carrying a blanket or pacing the same small radius of blocks in downtown Oakland (where I work and live, so I walk to work) every week. In the richest nation in human history. The dichotomy breaks my heart.

We have an utterly broken system and it's only getting worse. And the fact that it hasn't happened to you is as much luck as anything. Millions of people are a life-threatening illness away from having their savings wiped out (I'm in the USA, remember?) or any other number of sudden and unescapable tragedies. Meanwhile, the ultra-wealthy horde their wealth and accumulate more. You know how much it would disrupt their lives to donate half of what they've got to people in need? Not in any way that they could possibly perceive on a daily basis. For these reasons and more, I will never not buy food for someone who asks. I might only give cash when I don't get a bad feeling about someone (even now, I'm still prejudiced against people for things they can't control, such as the appearance of severe mental health issues), but then again, how often do I have cash on me? But ask me to buy you a meal or groceries and I'll get you as much as you can carry.

/rant

0: https://99percentinvisible.org/need/