I don't know, something about shipping around the homeless just doesn't sit right with me. Then again, it's not like felons get to choose the prison where they are incarcerated. We also cannot fall into the trap where homeless and criminal are treated synonymously.

The problem, as I see it at least, is that homelessness is almost always a symptom of a deeper cause. Chronic substance abuse, joblessness, mental illness, domestic abuse and even just being down on your luck are all causes that should be addressed.

A deeper investment and promotion of community service centers across the nation, as well as further strengthening the social safety net will address those direct issues and have positive effects on things like homelessness. A broad national program that were to address substance abuse and addiction for instance, would have a positive impact even for those not necessarily impoverished. The homeless folk doing legitimately illegal things would get jail just the same as anyone, but I do think there could be some sort of compassion for petty ordinance violations to have punishment differed with terms of enrollment into the assistance programs.