system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What problems does homelessness cause for society as a whole?

There's a lot out there about homelessness and the problems it causes for the affected individual, but what problems does homelessness cause for society as a whole?
gpt
Economic stress due to homelessness occurs for several reasons.  For context, we'll us the U.S. as an example.

* Nations that do not have universal healthcare coverage (U.S.) pay for healthcare for homeless individuals only through the Emergency Room.  This is extremely expensive, due to lack of preventative care.  The government generally pays all bills, because people can not be denied in the ER.

* The presence of homeless in neighborhoods, business communities, shopping malls create economic stagnation.  People with visit shopping ares less often and spend less money.  And those that do spend money will spend less time and visit less often.  This is the inspiration for the many loitering laws on the books. 

* Real estate values of "traditional" neighborhoods plummet with the presence of homeless.  

* The allocation of community services is stunted.  Police have less time to spend on real issues, dealing with minor homeless misdemeanors.  Welfare workers have less time help needy families.  Hospitals have less time to spend with other patients.


* The government in general loses out huge in terms of investment.  Working people pay taxes and bring in revenue.  Homeless pay no taxes (other than sales), yet they are the recipients of services.  This is a perfect example of the "Free Rider Problem."
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This is not by any means the fault of most homeless people in the (US).  A large population of the homeless is in fact mentally disabled, developmentally disabled, or physically disabled.  This disability severally limits their appeal in a (presently vicious) job market.  In addition, many homeless suffering from mental illness are former patients of federally funded mental health clinics that have had to cut back on funding or close entirely.  The end result is an untreated patient thrown back into a world with no understanding or sympathy for their illness/disease/disability.  This is akin to having someone come in with two broken legs, putting one in a cast, and saying "here you go mate, ran out of plaster, best of luck with this crutch."