[invincing]

I suppose you don't live in Finland, because I've never heard opinions like that from a fellow Finn.

Last night the outdoor temperature here was -20 C (-4 F). In conditions like this, it's basic human behaviour to give shelter to those in need. I gladly pay taxes so that the government can solve the problem in the most efficient way for the society. It would be much more expensive to let the ER and health care system handle these people when they get severely frostbitten outside.

[Sileni]

That's our jam here in the US. Can't afford $1k/month rent? Sleep in the streets, or get assaulted in an overcrowded shelter. If you're lucky once you freeze off a couple of toes you'll be taken to a hospital, where they'll load you up with debt. Then, we'll pass you off to one of our for-profit prisons for failing to pay off the debt, who will also charge you for the time you spend in the prison.

This is an actual worst case scenario in our country. If you think we're a little psychotic, it's because if we've experienced poverty in our lives at all, that daily lottery draw has been in the back of our minds since. That sort of insecurity just does not go away.

[lurquer]

In light of the weather, would one expect a sizesble number of truly homeless people? Regardless of gov't policy, Finland isn't the place where one can sleep outdoors on the sidewalk or on a park bench. Such a person will either find housing, die, or get train ticket to Italy.