So what are we supposed to do? Arresting and incarcerating "the homeless" is I figure more expensive than treatment, if we had the space. Does the public want to spend more money on prisons for the mentally ill and drug affected that so many homeless are?
Shall we spend more money on treatment, even if it has a limited effect? Shall we take some of the money we spend on our military to help with funding treatment programs? Isn't that also "national security".
Shall the 1%, who have gained nearly half the new wealth, leaving the remaining 99% with the other half, should they be taxed at a higher rate? Sure, "the homeless" are visible, but what of the wealthy that hide taxable income in foreign banks? If a homeless person causes $1000 in damage from trash, how does that compare to a wealthy person not paying millions in taxes?
It's an upstream problem. But few connect the dots.