You're right, but I don't think that's the full picture. I once was working on a book that featured several homeless characters, I spent a lot of time talking t

You're right, but I don't think that's the full picture. I once was working on a book that featured several homeless characters, I spent a lot of time talking to and hanging out with the homeless as research (think early 2000s). Things are different now. I don't have any numbers for you, but the meth epidemic has left us with a whole traunch of society that has permanent brain damage if not permanent psychosis. I honestly don't know what we are going to do with these people, or how we are going to care for them. I live in So Cal in a city with a large homeless population. I cannot take my daughter to McDonald's-- it's just not safe. I personally have had homeless folks try to open my car doors at stop lights and in drive throughs. I've seen numerous fights break out. People standing on the street screaming at something. Aggressive and threatening begging-- including one guy who parked his wheelchair behind my car (I've seen him walking, it was a prop) and wouldn't move until I gave him $20 (I didn't). I have every sympathy for the homeless. But the fact is my local McDonald's is probably missing out on a visit from my family a week not because its not safe.