Economically speaking, it's vastly cheaper to keep people housed through rental assistance, rent control and other measures than trying to re-bootstrap someone

Economically speaking, it's vastly cheaper to keep people housed through rental assistance, rent control and other measures than trying to re-bootstrap someone into housing. Direct assistance (which most western governments have already discovered) is the most effective way to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place. Without strong renter protections federally, states are left to implement measure that prevent homelessness, results vary. Even city by city, a renter's rights can vary wildly. SF is a unique case, specifically because of the political corruption and absolute money printer that the homeless "problem" creates. SF spends millions of dollars in "aid" which means it mostly ends up getting passed through 4 or 5 non profits and only 1/1000 of the money raised via taxes is actually getting to the people who need it.