You want to know why homelessness increased in Oroville starting around 2015? I will tell you why. Marijuana. Lots of illegal grows in the county above Oroville. It brought in 20-something neer-do-wells that clog the street corners waiting for “Bud Trimming Season” to start.
That and the city of Chico rushed out all their bums down to Oroville. It is the county seat of Butte County so it makes sense to be where the money and county freebies are...
Used to be a very nice sleepy area with a nice mix of tweakers and seniors/sarc now its changed. There is a shooting once a week. Break ins and burglaries and more.
Speaking as a dude that was homeless, for the second or third time, this last winter and spring, I can say in all honesty that the easier life it made for the homeless, the more homeless there will be in that area.
Want a homelessness crisis in your town or city? Just start spending a lot of money on the homeless.
Works like a charm. Every. Time.
Marijuana brings jobs, not homeless. Maybe I misunderstand the connection you are trying to make. Happy to have a clarification.