While I would agree this attitude stems from fear, I'm not so sure it's rooted in fatalism; or the idea that homelessness represents some "bad roll of the dice"

While I would agree this attitude stems from fear, I'm not so sure it's rooted in fatalism; or the idea that homelessness represents some "bad roll of the dice" that could happen to anyone. It more likely stems from not understanding the circumstances that led people to being on the street. One of the first things learned when volunteering with a social services non-profit organization is that many homeless are there by choice; the result of their own actions and decisions. Drug and alcohol abuse are almost always at the root cause. Fortunately, the culture in SF tends to approach this problem as an illness, and doesn't assume every homeless person is a criminal.