[huffmsa]

So, now that the government can safely do nothing, why won't the private sector fill in?

3 part answer:

1) my understanding of the political lean of the city is that the government is the great social savior.

2) most private groups who take care of the homeless and otherwise destitute havehistorically had a religious affiliation.

3) private groups have to deal with the same real estate prices as everyone else, and because of 1 and 2 and the general skepticism of religion by the citizenry, they won't be given any tax breaks or land price cuts, meaning they simply cannot afford to setup service.

It really is a self feeding system of misery-but-not-enough-to-kill-you all the way around.

[pjc50]

There is literally no money in it, so obviously the private sector isn't going to do anything. You might get a bit of "third sector" charity, but it's always inadequate wherever you go.