It may sounds trite, but there is a solution: very strong family structures. Where I live, homelessness is essentially unheard of. Yes, many people live in dirt-floor huts, but they live together, often as large extended-family units. The lone vagabond sleeping in a box in a random city alley just doesn't happen. No family would let it happen...
This likely helps the problem, yes. It might not fix the underlying issues, but at least the unfortunate person's personal problems aren't compounded by losing a stable place to stay.
