[PaulHoule]

I think you're missing the point about homelessness.

In most parts of the US you can get social services if you're willing to (1) deal with horrible bureaucracy, and (2) stop using drugs and alcohol.

Chronically homeless people aren't homeless because they're poor but instead they have mental health issues that leave them disconnected from avenues for help. There are many "homeless" people that don't sleep on the street because they stay with friends or family, or, like William Shatner in the early 70's, live in a car.

Because the chronically homeless have bad enough problems relating to people they don't need complicated rules coming between them and services they need.

[dragonwriter]

> In most parts of the US you can get social services if you're willing to (1) deal with horrible bureaucracy, and (2) stop using drugs and alcohol.

To even have a chance of being loosely correct, the "willing" here needs to change to "willing and able". For both items, that is a pretty big difference from just "willing".

[PaulHoule]

I'll agree with that.

[jdunck]

A fair number of homeless have mental conditions, but not nearly all. In any case, the hashing approach doesn't manifest as complicated: What's your name? OK, come at 10:15 on Wednesday. That's all.