It is all over CA. Even most videos you see in LA are of skid row, but it is much much wider than just skid row. It's all over.
I realize there are exceptions like your friend who lived in a car for a few weeks, but most of the people here WANT to be living on the streets.
About 6 months ago, with the anticipation of rains, they needed to clean out the dry, Santa Ana River bed. It is a requirement that before moving any bum, they have to be offered a place to live. The Co. Supervisor was on the radio stating that he personally went and asked the 1,400 people living in the river bed if they wanted a place to live. 92% of the people did NOT want a place. They don't want to follow the rules of living in a place. So the county moved them out. I don't remember the numbers, but they had to clean up thousands of needles, tons (literally) of poop as well as the bums' belongings.
As disgusting as they are, they are also violent & everyday we hear of vagrant attacks on everyday citizens.
These people are allowed to foul our state & I have a low level of sympathy for them.