Make housing more affordable, and a chance for those who are homeless to get on their feet again so they can have a shot at a normal life. Although I must admit that a fair number of the homeless have brought it on themselves, we should remember that isn't true of all of them.

Swift's "Modest Proposal" anyone?

Long term homeless suffer from Mental Health problems and Drug/Alcohol problems. The old and women with children have help available from Charities. From what I've seen, the Job-core model works well for at risk youth. I'd like to see a modern day Conservation Corp available for "healthy" adults. Mental Health treatment as well as Drug/Alcohol treatment would be part of the Corp. A change of scenery could be great if it included a days work and treatment. After a while a minimum wage stipend could be saved up to get folks back on their feet.

About thirty years ago, we had a movement that closed many if not most of the public mental hospitals. I admit abuse existed, but that was when the homeless population sky-rocketed. Let's face it, there exists people in our society who need to be housed on the public dole. They used to have a mental problem or alcohol problem. Now we have more chemical drugs. I know the libertarians will hate this because "they should take care of themselves." The leftos will hate it because of "shame" or "compulsion," etc. We should go back to the old institutionalization of the mentally ill. It's cheaper in the long run to keep them off the streets, out of crime and out of the emergency rooms of hospitals. It is also more compassionate, let's admit it.

This one's a tough nut to crack for any politician. Some of them are truely down on their luck, and would work to help themselves, when given assistance. Some don't want the help, and some don't have the motivation to help themselves. They are likely to remain homeless or non-functional in society, no matter what help is offered by the state or private citizens. A small minority *are* criminals, either scam artists, or part of the supply chain (use your brain). For those who do break the law, they need some time to think it over first, if you catch my drift. After their stint, then see if they have the motivation to go for something better then life on the street.

These are all some tuff nuts to crack on this list. Im glad Im not a world leader. This is not something 'the pres' is gonna spend time on anyway. Maybe I should have more compassion for these folks but I just dont. A good portion have mental disorders and should be institutionalized, plain and simple. Get them the facilities and the help they need to try to make productive citizens of them. The other great majority of them, bums and drug addicts are nothing but a drain on western society and should be arrested every time they are seen. I have no pity for those who just give up at our expence. They should be put in a jail work program. The ratio of homeless people who are actually just "down on their luck" I believe is probably 1 in 20. If I could help a person like that I would. Lord knows Ive been weeks away from not having a roof myself a time or two, make not mistake though, it was because I was making bad and irresponsible decisions with my life. (a dumbasss in my early twenties like a lot of young bucks) The rest of them I really dont spend one minute of the day worrying about.

Not really an issue that requires the president's attention, other than including money in the budget to be distributed to the states. This issue would be better addressed at the state and local level.

There were people willing to help the homeless in new york city, but they didn't want anyone's help. A lot of people don't realize that a majority of these people hate society and anything that comes from anyone in this society, especially the man

America is one of the most selfishly developed nations in this planet. To reduce the homeless population you must have socialized health care, higher taxes on the wealthy, distribution of money to those who are in need, support strong community rights, and build more housing for them (homeless people). We need a president who has an agenda like The New Deal and Great Society.

This is not a presidential issue. Charity is one of the very, very last items the federal government should legislate. Americans are the most generous people in the history of the world, getting the federal government involved has done very little to solve these peoples' problems.

The first thing I would do to help the homeless is to improve the mental health care in the country. Many homeless people have mental issues and really just need help but our society has decided that mental health is not that important. It seems to be turning around to the point where almost everyone has issues. I still don't believe that many of the homeless get the care they need.