For anyone that is interested, here is the link to the 2022 Point-in-Time(PIT) report the article is talking about: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

And the Vermont 2022 PIT report with the raw data and county breakdown: https://helpingtohousevt.org/2022-point-in-time-count/

Yes there are a few that choose to be homeless for various reasons. but like you said its no where near the majority. I would argue that nearly 60% of Americans are one paycheck away from losing their homes and that's not even touching on those who are forced to be homeless due to discrimination. So no, it's not always a choice nor is it "fair" to those who are put into that situation.

The way to fix it as many others have pointed out in this comment section is to provide affordable housing, decent paying jobs, and strict anti-discrimination laws to help prevent the problem in the first place. Along with providing programs that assist those who are homeless to be able find sustainable housing, work, and substance abuse treatment if needed. Such programs and organizations do exist both in Vt and nationally. but a lot of times they have to run on a shoestring budget, deal with convoluted bureaucracy, and face discrimination by those who are ignorant of the problem or choose to ignore it.

Thank you. I wish the same for you as well and your love ones. :)

Such programs like that have been done before going all the way back to the 1800's. All it did was abuse those who were in that situation as cheap labor and as such gave no incentive for those running such programs to allow the homeless to be able to improve themselves.

Homeless or not, people have the right to self determination and sweeping the problem out of public site wont solve anything.

Funny enough, I don't live in Vermont nor work with that organization anymore because of the reasons you stated above and I even took a train to were I currently live.

Anyway if you do want to help here's their web page; https://www.anotherwayvt.org/

Their main objective is to provide support for those whom have suffered from mental illness but they also help those who are homeless since it is such a huge problem and there's a bit of a correlation between the two.

The homeless population isn’t as migratory as you seem to believe. In my experience as someone who had been homeless and also worked for a nonprofit organization to help homeless people in central Vermont. Many would stay because they wanted to be close to there family, Stay close to where they work, or lack the means in order to move.