First developed in the US, the initiative known as Housing First, is being adopted increasingly in Europe. Unlike traditional approaches, it doesn’t require individuals to meet certain criteria before receiving housing assistance. The idea is that homeless individuals have a higher chance of creating a brighter future for themselves if they first have a roof over their heads.
Carlos Martínez Carrasco lived rough for several years before a Housing First initiative provided him with a flat on the outskirts of Madrid.
He told Real Economy that the flat has changed his life in every way: “I no longer lack the things that you do when you’re on the street and I can cook. I don’t have to find a way to wash clothes… I can go out with the peace of mind that I have a place to come back to. I am very happy today.”
The number of addicted people or people with mental health issues is closer to 30%, it might seem higher to you because you notice those people more.
https://unitedtoendhomelessness.org/blog/myth-most-homeless-people-are-either-mentally-ill-or-have-a-substance-use-disorder/
Things get much better if housing is provided since most people just don’t have a home, so let’s start there.
It depends on which EU country you’re talking about, the ones that provide support for addicts reduce their addicted population, the ones that provide housing reduce their homeless population, the ones that provide mental health services reduce their mentally ill population.
Just like in the US, and everywhere else these programs are implemented.
UBI and comprehensive social support are the obvious solutions to most of these problems, and a historically work, so I take every new properly made social program as a success, especially if they are continued after they prove their worth.