[user104658]

It's been demonstrated time and again that giving people with little money more money is good in the long term, and that most use it well (for education and training, to get out of crippling debt, etc.) but there's a sort of incredulity about it... all very Lockian, work = virtue etc.

As for the bit at the end, homelessness is a really complex issue... the answer (contrary to what seems logical) isn't necessarily housing, either. In the UK at least, "not having anywhere to go" is bizarrely not the number one cause of homelessness, and many people on the streets actually do HAVE a home. Complex mental health issues, usually.

I'm not sure if it's the same stateside though to be fair, shoddy as the UK benefits system is, it's still lightyears ahead of the situation in the US, where I suspect people may just genuinely not be able to afford rent and not be offered any assistance. And I really have no idea about Canada. I know they're more socially minded - but I also know that the housing situation in the large cities is absolutely dire.