Homelessness has drastically increased in the last 20 years. It is pretty mind blowing to watch. I have heard these causes as the root over and over again.

• Breakdown of support systems for people. Their community / family / friends.
• Drug / substance addictions which usually leads to the breakdown of support systems
• Fewer entry level jobs due to minimum wage, business license requirements. Greater barrier to entry in workforce / business.
• Housing costs. Many factors here but in many cities it is hard to build low cost housing due to zoning, codes, and permitting.
• Mental health. After the scandals that led to mass closures of mental hospitals following the release of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" many have no place to go.
• Drug laws result in people becoming felons and making it even harder to find work, leading them back into crime.

My take is that it is a very complex problem that is primarily created by state policy but not 100% state policy. Some of it is a moral and cultural issue. The break down of society and basic decency. Cities could do a lot more to help but most aren't recognizing the root issues. They focus on housing primarily and throw money at the problem. Many private groups are doing good work but its not enough.

Churches could do more. Many are very active but not enough. One issue I believe contributes to apathy is that many people think, well I pay my taxes. Let the government fix this. Or I payed my fair share. Why should I do anything more. The issue with that is that the government SUCKs and allocating funds. Private orgs are much better. The government is not fixing the issue. They never will. One thing I can tell you is not the cause. Free markets. But, if people do want to see the government become smaller private citizens are going to have to become more active parts of solving the problem.

A few weeks ago I attended a grand opening for a new facility that is doing good work in this space. It has financial support from community members and businesses. They not only feed hungry people but provide job training, safe apartments, counseling, mentoring, and general support to those that want help. It was very encouraging to see how many people were there in support. Over the past ten years at least I've observed cities getting in the way of people trying to help the homeless many times. It makes me angry. The state is evil. Most don't see it. They think when I say this that I mean the people that work in government are evil. That's not what I mean. Its the institution. It does evil. Even when it pretends to be doing good it is producing bad outcomes. I wish the state would get out of the way, stop stealing from us, and remove the barriers that prevent us from solving these problems.