There aren’t “myriad legit reasons most don’t want to be sheltered”  Just saying it doesn’t make it so.   Most of the chronically homeless have severe mental health or drug addiction issues.  They need treatment, in a facility, as outpatients living in their own place, or in some version of foster care or halfway houses.   They aren’t supposed to “last long” in the shelters.  The shelters are for emergencies, they are a triage point to get people on the path to permanent housing ASAP.  The monthly “rent” is $3 a night.  The concept behind getting them to make a small contribution is to get them to start thinking once again about the idea of paying rent for their own place.  It’s true there’s a huge shortage of affordable housing, but there are places available, the Housing First program has gotten hundreds of people housed, I have filmed it.  I’m weary of folks who attack our public officials as corrupt or uncaring. We deter good people from running for office.