Why are there so many homeless people in Santa Cruz, CA?

Question

A long-time resident told a group of college students it is because Ronald Reagan closed all of the asylums, giving the patients $5 and sending them all to live on the streets.

I always figured that it was the pot smoking life style that caused people to lose their jobs & become homeless.

Answer 1

have you seen the south park episode night of the living homeless

Answer 2

Its also warm enough for homeless people to survive year round. You don't see homeless people in Idaho because its too cold to live outside.