Reply #111: Pulled out of the OP for emphasis:

[Raksha]

"But the lack of stable housing & work will certainly exacerbate & CREATE depression & mental illness, substance abuse, family break-up, crime, & hard to eradicate declines in self-respect & hope. Multi-generational."

It's very important not to confuse an effect with a cause. The stress of homelessness or just plain old poverty will create depression and low self-esteem like nothing else in the world...but I'm sure I don't need to tell you that. I'm just pointing it out for the benefit of any lurkers with blame-the-victim tendencies.