I’m not sure about the extra strings attached on that program but you’re probably right, there was probably something in there that was deterring some of them. It was still surprising to me to see so much disinterest in the program.

As for why there are homeless… in my experience, no it’s usually not the price of housing. It usually has to do with drugs or mental illness. Now i’m absolutely no expert so the price of housing may be the main reason by a long shot but in my limited experience with people i’ve known and met that were homeless (which is admittedly and obviously a tiny number compared to all the homeless in this country), the large majority of them were put in that situation cause they were super addicted to drugs so that’s where all the money went and they couldn’t hold a job, or they had big time mental issues.