here's a great stat: the average person that becomes homeless is earning $960/month when that happens. so, call it $12,000 a year. they are working, just not making very much money, and basically not enough to cover rent anywhere in the USA. that's about what most college students i knew back in the day made working part time, but it wouldn't put much of a dent in today's cost of living. it really is just a math problem and blaming drugs or mental health is just hand-waving.