After the real estate bubble crashed in 2008 policy makers decided to try to reinflate the bubble and at the same time limit the supply of housing to make sure it stayed inflated. They succeeded, prices are higher than the last bubble and we're short a couple million units of housing.
The able bodied people living in tents in major cities the the victims of that success.
Another bubble is on the horizon and this one will be bigger than 2008 in my opinion. There are several vectors converging here.
I'm grateful to have a nice room by the beach in Maui. All I need is wifi and I can get by. Learning how to grow food now too as I save up for a farm.
The real estate market out here is INSANE. Housing shortage too. I got lucky because the people I live with now see potential in me. Wouldn't have happened without lurking on HN for 11 years.
The able bodied people living in tents in major cities the the victims of that success.