I just figured that tons of people living on the streets was normal in any big city. Then I moved to a developing country in Asia, to a city 4 times larger, and there’s no such problem. I mean, there are other problems, but not this one.
Where exactly? In the third world there’s often tons of people without an official dwelling, but the dysfunction actually helps them because they’re able to build an unofficial dwelling without anyone stopping them. So they end up in slums that paradoxically can be nicer than a first-world homeless encampment of the same size would be.
It’s a solvable problem here too, it’s just a matter of nobody caring enough to pay for a solution.
For example, I know one older gentleman on my street. His home does not seem to be static, he sort of just lives with a variety of families he’s related to at varying degrees, and who live on the same street. I see him working at various shops and food carts those families run. Everyone seems happy to welcome him, and on a daily basis, he seems quite a bit happier than me, if I’m being honest.
In poorer countries where people often have to resort to it being a couch surfer is a lot more socially acceptable, to the point where even calling it that is funny because it might just be normal life. When you hear about African countries and regions with 80% unemployment that’s how it works.