Probably the most reactionary views I have stem from the city subcontracting a shelter in my neighborhood. What was a very safe area is now over run with the mentally ill and drug addicts. Hearing about women getting chased down the street at night, harassed in the park, in addition to petty crime.
And you will say, but Jack what about your empathy for the homeless? Two points there: 1. I don't care, I don't want my daughter chased down the street by a lunatic. 2. I don't think it is empathetic to take mentally ill homeless people and dump them into the streets all day.
I don't have a problem with homeless people btw. We have some in the area who have never hurt anyone.
The deinstitutionalization movement has sentenced too many mentally ill people to a life of homelessness and drug addiction. The decision to move to community based care for the mentally ill presumes that everyone has support and secure housing. Shelters/halfway houses can't provide adequate care.