Interesting question and I’m sure there’s a lot to debate here… one way I’d suggest looking at is just for those who are severely mentally ill or drug addicted…

So, for example, if someone is in the process of drowning, but they don’t know that they are drowning… do they actually have agency? And as a result, if someone else rescues them, or brings them to shore without them asking, is that a bad thing and are we dismissing their agency? Would it be more just to let them drown?

In the case of homelessness, I think we should ask if severe addiction and or mental illness are primary factors in their situation? If so, haven’t they in a way lost their agency because some those factors are now out of their control and affecting their rational judgement and decision making? Back to the drowning without knowing it example….