It's probably difficult for we educated, generally well-off people who procrastinate by reading Hacker News to empathize with the homeless. Perhaps you (I'm ma

It's probably difficult for we educated, generally well-off people who procrastinate by reading Hacker News to empathize with the homeless. Perhaps you (I'm making assumptions here, but by you I really mean the streotypical reader of this site) know someone with drug issues or mental illness, but most likely, given the nature of the relations you're likely to have, they have a support system (health insurance that covers these things or family / friends with money) that provides access to treatment. We know people who have gotten fired or laid off, but they've been rich, connected, or skilled enough so that it can be overcome. Others are not so lucky and when those things happen, they end up on the streets. Once on the street, the potential barrier to getting off is not so easy to overcome. We like to think it can't be us, and for lots of us, we're lucky enough that that's true. There probably aren't too many homeless people on Hacker News to give the alternative perspective.