In the 30s, w/ the Depression, the FDR Admin did a lot to help the jobless, homeless, food-less, which was a big part of the population (Dust bowl etc)
They spent millions.. billions and b4 FDR even Hoover threw taxpayer money at this and that project to try to help people. But all that money just helped them "eat for a day" whereas didn't do much to help people in t he long run (teach them to fish)
I think having a roof over your head is a right. Therefore, if all that money had been spent on building places for people to get out of the weather, well, those buildings could still exist today to house the homeless we have today. Again, I am talking about very basic housing, nothing fancy... just rooms w/ access to showers/kitchens
When people have hteir basic needs met, then they can move on, work on getting a good job or an education, etc. But when all their resources are spent in just surviving... All they think of is surviving
something is very wrong. Again, people should be made to take care of their own. If a family feels they can't live w/ some family member for whatever reason... well, maybe they could get low interest loans to build a separate backyard cabin or whatever so that person and the family can have their space. That would be a HECK of a LOT cheaper than having them go on the govt dole.
I know people who have very abusive families, just kick their own children out in the streets and those people are disturbed and depressed and have nowhere to go..