It bugs me that the article calls the US' (and specifically California and New York) decision not to address homelessness as an 'inability'.
We're perfectly able to do it. We've made hundreds of billions of dollars appear out of thin air for other countries' wars, and we can look at Finland as a model for policy that works in addressing homelessness.
We like our cruelty, and we want it to reflect in policies that demonize and punish homelessness. It's that simple.