I think it is unfair to look at the homelessness of SF as an attribute or failing of the city or to extrapolate out as if it were synecdocheic of the country.

I think it is unfair to look at the homelessness of SF as an attribute or failing of the city or to extrapolate out as if it were synecdocheic of the country. Homelessness in the whole state gravitates to SF because of the climate: sure, it's cold in SF, but it's never freezing. Sf has (one of if not) the mildest winters of any city in North America; the record cold is 28F. And the record high is 103F. Some of the homelessness moves around the state, but a lot settles in SF because of the climate. Additionally, there are instances of homeless people being bussed to SF (like Nevada did). SF tries very hard to deal with homelessness, but it's dealing with the homelessness of a much larger area and population than the population of SF can afford to help. The US itself needs to step up (like refunding a national mental health institution, to remedy one of the most braindead things Reagan ever did).