Szasz’s discussion of mental illness is valid.
It is policy-makers who have chosen to put homeless people on the streets—there are many other alternatives available—regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with Szasz.
One obvious alternative is zero tolerance for “nuisance” crimes—and zero tolerance for homeless encampments on public streets.
Putting homeless people to work in agricultural settings would be another approach.
There is no reason the public should suffer because some people in society seek to make a nuisance of themselves in the public square.
Szaz’s work became policymakers’ Bible in the 60s and 70s. I lived it. The mentally ill often lived on farms and institutions prior to the GREAT UNCARING.
They undid hundreds of years of work to get the mentally ill and unable cared for instead of locked in cellars or killed.