>The state of some homeless people presents big problems. They take drugs and drink, then start fighting among themselves. It can get a bit dangerous in the shelters

This is among the many reasons I avoid significantly sized cities (and in fact cities at all to the best extent I am able), shelters, and other homeless. I stay in the woods, but not in "homeless camps". Stealing, personal security, and a lack of desire to interact with mindset of the "average homeless person". When I interact, I'd prefer discussing music, art, science, history, etc. That's rarely going to be possible with most homeless that I have met. The only thing that labels me "homeless" is the fact that I have no home, I do not carry much of the same types or degrees of baggage that tends to go along with that. I am certainly what most people would consider "mentally ill", but I'm not hearing voices and can form reasonably coherent thoughts, and have a very high moral standard (I will not steal, and create art to sell rather than "beg", for instance). I also try to maintain the highest levels of hygiene that the situation and location allow for (I camp near creeks/rivers partly for this reason).