re: Does anyone have an explanation for the increase in the homeless?

Unfettered abortion

#everythingisconnected

for us at least, Drugs / alcohol was more a consequence of homelessness than a cause (for the men) in our shelter. We did also have a severely damaged vet population. Domestic violence was the cause for the majority of the women. Drugs / alcohol then also a follow on consequence. limited social safety net means most are on the street.

It’s only in the largest metro areas that homelessness is rising. But aggregate homelessness across the country is falling.

Drugs. Watch the documentary "Seattle is Dying".

Scarce low income housing. Catholic Charities and other NGOs scoff up what there is, and gift it to non-Americans (with government subsidies).

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Homelessness and mental illness are closely linked, not in every case but very many. An interesting side question would be what could be causing uptick in mental illness.

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Read an article awhile back that said something like 25% of people under age 40 were on some type of psychotropic drug....unbelievable.

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Gutting of manufacturing jobs in country, blue collar jobs, along with Easy access to opioids.
It’s more complicated than that but I know it has played a huge role.

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not many want to work in the trades....

huge need

apparently the PT members wants to send every singled skill laborer back to Mexico who doesn't have proper paper work to be here

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We've sort of killed the odd job economy, and also zoned out the whole concept of skid row type flop houses, so instead of the subset of the population that will always be sort of derelict shacking up in shanty rooms for minimal rent, they now live in tents under every overpass in basically every downtown area of the country.

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I blame Airbnb

The stigma is being taken away from it. Some people have glorified the lifestyle. With some many free programs you can get health care and food for free. Other than having a place to lay your head other than a shelter it’s a free life with no responsibilities

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The common connection to all of these that caused homelessness was loneliness

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That makes a sad sense to me.

With the way people move around now, they’re often very far away from family, and those family bonds are much weaker.