The safe and sound bill which houses prop 47 and prop 57 has led to the release of tens of thousands of non violent drug offenders throughout the nation. It is no wonder homelessness has increased throughout the recent years as housing these people were not part of the initiate although 1.5 billion was set aside for drug rehabilitation, mental health wellness, job training, and other programs used to help them steer away from a life of crime.
Of course there are other factors that cause homelessness such as rising rent costs that are raising faster than peoples salaries can sustain. Rent is actually rising faster than inflation thus causing widespread homelessness as people can not afford to maintain their home. For many people throughout the country it has become a struggle just to maintain food on the table for their families.
This leaves other responsibilities on hold such as routine car repair, new shoes and clothes, utility bills, and unfortunately late rent payments. Eviction is becoming another leading source of homelessness as population has boomed and there is always another person or persons willing to pay the rent on time.
These realities are hitting hard especially in California where homelessness is in nearly every city you visit. Homeless people camp out under bridges and on river banks as a common occurrence in the golden state now. Many new homeless shelters are being built or renovated to house the growing number of homeless and cities have begun to offer small compensation to them for the help cleaning up their cities.
https://www.scpr.org/news/2017/11/09/77549/30-000-california-prison-inmates-could-be-safely-r/
https://www.citylab.com/equity/2013/11/why-your-rent-rising-faster-inflation/7484/