I volunteered for a very short time at the women's overflow shelter at the soup kitchen.  As someone else mentioned here is that some (perhaps many) don't want to live in apartments or rooms. There were some women that had been given a place to live to only leave it a couple of month later. I know one woman that is very attractive and clean. She did have a good life in the past, but for some reason became schizophrenic or perhap delusional due to Bipolar. Many of these people are mentally ill  I don't believe that any of them stated to their moms & dads that when they grew up they wanted to be homeless & mentally ill.  I think we are caught between a rock & a hard place. Some of us feel empathy for the plight of these people that no doubt grew up without the tools to live a good life & never obtained them as adults therefore they need a handout & encouraging them to remain in the situation because of a handout. Many of the people will experience wet brain if they do sober up.