there are some people who end up homeless due to shitty circumstances like divorce, getting kicked out of their place and unable to find another place. but the majority of homeless people are mentally ill, this is well known. and drug addiction is also another huge factor. i should know, i hang out with a group of based hobos in my cities down town. i also went to school for social work.  mental illness and drug addicts who are homeless will often refuse help, get violent and belligerent. what we should be doing is re-instating involuntary institutionalization. get the mentally ill off the streets by force. and do the same with drug addicts through forced rehab, counseling and job skills development. truth is its cheaper to just round these people into one area of a city and turn a blind eye.
Canada