> Most homeless people don't start out mentally ill or addicted to drugs, but people who are mentally ill or addicts often end up homeless because there's no su

> Most homeless people don't start out mentally ill or addicted to drugs, but people who are mentally ill or addicts often end up homeless because there's no support system for them, at least in the US. > Many homeless people become dependent upon booze or drugs to either numb the suffering of their existence or to keep going under horrible conditions. > There are serious logistical problems inherent in all the solutions that affluent people consider "obvious", because they haven't actually thought them through or lack the life experience to understand why they won't work. You nailed it. Great post- I wish the folks arguing against actually helping people who are homeless would read this (especially the part about the couple in Las Vegas).