I must have missed this thread so I’m getting in a little late, but would strongly urge everyone to watch as much as you can of the viral investigative news video,
Seattle is Dying, in which the problem the OP referenced is well stated, and if you continue watching toward the end a very interesting solution is discussed. It’s really a drug problem. The solution involves arrest and conviction followed by incarceration
with strong intervention. Housing placement for drug addicts in the hope they will fly straight is NOT a solution in most cases.
To get some idea of how people feel,
start here.
For opinions from police officers,
start here.
For a possible solution,
start here.
I live in the Seattle area, and what the OP refers to has been in our local news A LOT. Every time I go into Seattle, I see the homeless camps and they are filthy.