Cities where the homeless problem isn't bad compared to its peers

[TheMarino]

Just about every city is going to have a homeless problem in the next 30 years if wages don't start matching costs/inflation/etc

[Pomelo]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

I don't remember seeing any homeless people when I was in Boise last summer, but Spokane does have them, and I'm not really sure why. Both cities are about the same size, both have similar climates, both are fairly conservative. Boise's prices have been increasing a lot faster, but if anything I'd think that would lead to a bigger, not smaller homeless population.

The only things I can think of are that Washington's state government gives more funding for shelters (but that wouldn't explain the large homeless population in e.g. Austin), or that Spokane is getting a lot of Seattle's homeless because the two cities are just a few hours apart along I-90.

Perhaps WA's more lax cannabis and other drug policies are more attractive to significant portions of the homeless population?

[papad622]

Originally Posted by Pomelo

Perhaps WA's more lax cannabis and other drug policies are more attractive to significant portions of the homeless population?

also way more generous welfare benefits in WA than in ID.

I live in Idaho and panhandlers/homeless start showing up instantly when you cross the state line from Idaho into Ontario, Oregon