"The most common single factor in homelessness is mental illness. Last year’s annual survey by the local government Human Services Commission counted 1,451 homeless people, of whom 434 reported a mental illness."

Well that's 30 percent which is certainly a significant part of the problem, but I can't agree that it's the "most common single factor in homelessness". That would be poverty, mainly caused by low wages and high rents.

Eugene's legal "rest stop" homeless camps, run by 2 nonprofits, have proven their worth, but the city seems unwilling to provide any more city land to put them on, probably due to the NIMBYs. I wish the RG would look at why the city is dragging its feet on expanding a program that actually works at providing safe shelter until homeless people can get housed. Most of them eventually do, but it's a lot harder to do if you spend all of your energy every day just surviving.

Homeless Action
https://www.facebook.com/homeless.action.coalition