> “But being a lifelong alcoholic can’t help, either.”
It doesn't seem necessary to define someone by their weakness and politicize homelessness in a memorial text. 

 > "estimated that she cost the city almost $1 million by living on the streets"
This seems accurate. It would have been cheaper to pay for her apartment, food, and healthcare her entire adult than to leave her on the street. 

After this article I think I am just going to start referring to homeless people as people. I am surprised that this article and some commenters focus on substance abuse and life failures. It seems like she has faced the same problems as many adults her age. Most substance abusers I have known live in permanent housing and have full-time jobs.