[tinglymintyfrsh]

Holistic contributing factors.

The main barrier to change is a widespread attitude problem: neglect rather than translating intent into action. The average American doesn't know anyone lacking housing and won't get personally involved to help "a stranger".

Furthermore, social workers and aid agencies generally don't take any proactive steps to get out to where unhoused people are or ask what they need. They're usually employees with performance standards and grand initiatives unrelated to practical and meaningful assistance.

Finally, the social safety net in America is a disgrace. Even in so-called liberal states, it treats recipients like criminals and doesn't respect them or their time while delivery inadequate resources to lift anyone out of dire situations (averaging $140 in cash and $225 for food per month). The recent debt hostage crisis engineered by far-right Republicans to attach punitive restrictions on ABAWDs and non-ABAWDs is a further punitive, collective attack on the poor for the crime of being poor.