[scruple]

Many of them prefer their perceived freedom living on the street vs. being placed into a living situation they didn't chose. In the handful of cases I am familiar with, including my brother in law, it's owed to untreated/neglected/self-medicated mental illness that manifests itself as a deep paranoia and distrust of authority types.

[mbrodersen]

Other countries (Finland I think?) have had success getting 80% of the homeless population off the street. 80% is a lot better than 0%.

[scruple]

I agree with you, and I love what the Finnish are doing on multiple fronts, but I don't think you're going to learn too much by comparing Finland to the United States.