Here in Colorado we have "actual homeless". Going to a homeless shelter in the winter time provides a great sample. And, there are dangers in those shelters where homeless people are still too scared to stay there.

It's been enlightening to see the surveys of the homeless in my area: who they are, how they got that way, how long they've been homeless.

There are now even prediction models for how unlikely an individual is to be alive in a year if they check 8 of 10 boxes in part of the survey.

The programs I've most been impressed with are the ones creating a stronger resistance layer to falling from having a home to homeless. They save society so much money.

Forming and maintaining relationships, in addition to $, are also important factor. Consider where in your network, homeless people could join and connect with you.