I work with the homeless. the main misconception is that they’re all either addicts or mentally ill. This is far, far, from true. The ones you see daily, chances are they are addicts or mentally ill but the “hidden” homeless vastly out weighs the ones you see on the streets.
Most have jobs or are actively looking for work. A lot are escaping domestic abuse or are LGBTQ+ and escaping hostile home environments. There are A LOT of families and elderly people who simply can’t afford to keep a roof over their heads.