It doesn't help to downplay substance abuse and mental illness' roles in homelessness (especially chronic homelessness)... He linked two different sources, but there are countless others, that point to both substance abuse and mental illness being noticeably more common in the homeless population...
That isn't to say that this is an excuse for America's lacking response to the homelessness crisis. But, to say the scale of Seattle's homeless population isn't an indictment of America's substance abuse policy and the state of its (mental) healthcare system, just as it's an indictment of dysfunctional urban bureaucracy and housing policies strikes me as a disingenuous assignment of blame.
If Seattle's high rate of homelessness is due much more to substance abuse and mental health issues and is largely unrelated to the high cost of housing locally, I would be interested in knowing what about Seattle is either causing people to be crazy or addicted or drawing inordinate numbers of such people there. If the high levels of local homelessness are an indictment of America's mental health and substance abuse issues, why isn't it equally bad elsewhere?
I'm aware there are many factors that contribute to homelessness and nowhere have I said that personal problems aren't a factor. But I fail to comprehend why there is such strong push back against the idea that lack of affordable housing is a factor at all, why every time this cones up, multiple people feel some need to say "Nuh uh, homeless people are just crazies and addicts and the cost of housing has no bearing" in essence, granted in slightly more PC language.
For what it's worth, my parents work in providing either free or below market rate housing. People provided eith such housing can have trouble keeping it due to their various personal problems.
I agree with you that there is a housing cost gradient which will cause people with moderate addiction or mental health issues to become homeless.
It's hard to keep any housing if you can't keep a job and your entitlements don't cover everything.
That isn't to say that this is an excuse for America's lacking response to the homelessness crisis. But, to say the scale of Seattle's homeless population isn't an indictment of America's substance abuse policy and the state of its (mental) healthcare system, just as it's an indictment of dysfunctional urban bureaucracy and housing policies strikes me as a disingenuous assignment of blame.