This is why I laughed at the way SLC declared victory over homelessness in 2015 to national acclaim.
http://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459100...cent-heres-how
With that said SLC is not unique I travel to many large cities and every city has a dangerous homeless area. i was in LA a few months back and ventured through the blocks and blocks of tents along the sidewalk in the Fashion District south east of downtown LA.
Homelessness is a direct result of America's complete lack of empathy and me first at at all cost ,trickle down clap trap and bargain basement education of the last 40 years. Europe (especially much lauded Scandinavian countries) largely has a much larger social consciousness and better safety net and I might also add a better quality of life and happier denizens.