I don’t buy it. I think mental illness is an overwhelming factor.
By definition there are a lot more homeless people than just the folks pushing grocery carts and living under the bridge.
That said mental illness and substance addiction is nearly the entire reason for people on the street and in homeless shelters.
As you stated, it's primarily due to mental illness. But, that then begs the question: who are the mentally ill? When did the illness manifest itself? Surely, we can trace a 30-40 something homeless drug addict to the point when they were just a regular 17 yo high school "student".
IMO, the people who are the mentally ill drug addicts today where the HS stoners & losers. In other words, low IQ - and the recognition of such - afflicting the 5-10% on the left side of the bell curve. Actually, it probably goes back to 3rd grade, when dumb bullies where already being ignored and/or punished by teachers. The differential between favored students, and those relegated to discipline, begins really early. Those on the losing side - which typically come from dysfunctional families, as IQ is primarily hereditary - know their outcome from an early age.
Smoking, alcohol, drugs, petty crimes, etc form group association links with other losers. The establishment of some kind of identity, no matter how anti-social, is a key component of ego. The problem really becomes pronounced when these HS kinship groups move apart. The 20s are typically spent as raging alcoholics and drug addled fringe criminals. Some time in jail, maybe even prison, by the 30s seals their collective fates.
By the time they hit their 40s, there's really nothing left. At that point, they're operating at less than a wild animal. You can see them on days like today, not minding being stuck in the elements, as long as they can scrounge enough digging through garbage to afford a $5 hit of meth.
And, as one would suspect, being a mentally ill homeless drug addict isn't really a long term career. It's why you never see any older than 50 or so; death catches up quickly. It's also why the population is actually pretty stable. That is, local geographic regions may see an influx, but the overall population is growing any faster than any other segment. That's because for every new addition to the ranks, death takes away the older homeless at the same rate.
I lived in Santa Barbara, California for many years.
Back then, MANY homeless encamped downtown.
You hit the nail on the head; the vast majority of them had mental problems.
Drug use and alcoholism were major factors, too.
Doesn’t it go back even further to a breakdown of the family? A breakdown of teaching morals to kids? Families used to take care of their own, grandparents and kids. When taxes are high more families need both parents working. Yes kids can run away, get on drugs, want to live on the streets. And there is mental illness but where are their families and why have these people separated from them? Why would so many rather live on the streets?
Wouldn't there be an overwhelming number of Liberals, then?
Heck...maybe there are!!
I agree, mental illness is a big factor. Some folks suffer from paranoia/schizo and often feel like someone is spying on them in their rooms, home, or they are listening in the walls.